Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 June 2017
At least two weedings within the first 5 weeks after sowing are necessary to minimize yield reduction caused by weeds in cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.]. During a 3-yr study, a preemergence application of metolachlor [2-chloro-N-(2-ethyl-6-methylphenyl)-N-(2-methoxy-1-methylethyl)acetamide] at 2.0 to 3.0 kg/ha, DCPA (dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate) at 10.0 kg/ha, or pendimethalin [N-(1-ethylpropyl)-3,4-dimethyl-2,6-dinitrobenzenamine] at 2.0 or 2.5 kg/ha controlled most annual grasses effectively. Itchgrass (Rottboellia exaltata L.) was controlled with pendimethalin at 2.5 kg/ha, but metolachlor had no effect on this weed. These herbicides caused no crop injury and cowpea grain yield was as good as in the handweeded and weed-free plots. Alachlor [2-chloro-2′, 6′-diethyl-N-(methoxymethyl) acetanilide] applied preemergence at 2.0 kg/ha was effective against annual weeds, but was phytotoxic to cowpea.