Effect of Atrazine on Germination and Growth Performance of Water Yam (Dioscorea alata)

Effect of rates of application of atrazine on germination and growth performance of water yam minisetts was investigated at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria. The treatments in the field experiment were four (4) rates of atrazine i.e 100%, 50%, 25%, and 0% of the recommended dosage rate of 2.5 kg active ingredient/ha or 5litres/ha. A plot to which no herbicides was applied served as the control (0%). The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Result showed that though yam minisetts emergence was not hampered by the rates of application of atrazine, the growth parameters of the yam minisetts were significantly (p= 0.05) affected at early stage. Yam minisetts vine length and vine thickness were significantly (p=0.05) higher at 50% treatments compared to other treatments and control. Rates of application of atrazine however, did not affect the number of leaves of yam minisetts. The rates of application of atrazine did not significantly (p=0.05) affect the yield parameters of yam minisetts, though the heaviest weight was produced under 25% treatments. Similarly, the rates of application of atrazine were similar in their effect on weed control and were better than the control.