Maize cultivar mixtures: a sustainable approach for weed management under reduced herbicide dose

Weeds pose a significant threat to agricultural productivity and food security, necessitating the use of herbicides for proper management. However, reliance on herbicides can lead to environmental degradation and the development of herbicide-resistant weeds. There is a growing trend towards employing natural weed control methods to reduce dependence on chemical herbicides and promote sustainable farming. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of maize hybrid mixture in integrated weed management practices. The research was conducted at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. The treatments were organized in a split-plot arrangement in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The experimental factors included a combination of maize hybrids (YH-5427 short-statured and DK-6714 tall-statured) with incremental doses of mesotrione and atrazine. A significant decrease in weed biomass of up to 81.7% was recorded in the hybrid mixture at the 25% reduced dose (mesotrione and atrazine), which was statistically at par with an 82.7% reduction in single hybrids. Similarly, the grain yield of the mixture at reduced herbicide dose was 11,127 kg ha-1 and 10,590 kg ha-1 having no statistical difference with the short-statured and tall-statured hybrid yields. Furthermore, the cultivar mixture consistently provided higher net return (up to $1412) and benefit-to-cost ratio (up to 2.21) across all treatments. However, careful selection of hybrids that are strong competitors with high yields and less dependence on herbicides can help achieve both environmental and economic objectives in weed control and crop production. These results suggest that proper combinations of hybrid mixtures can efficiently control weeds while reducing the need for herbicides, thus promoting sustainable agriculture.