Correlation Analysis of Rice Yield and Weed Parameters as Affected by Post Emergence Herbicides and Seedling Age in Jega Sudan Savanna Zone of Nigeria

The trial was conducted in the Fadama area of Teaching and Research Farm of Abdullahi Fodio University of Science and Technology Aliero located at Jega Sudan Savanna zone of Nigeria. The study was instituted to investigate the performance of rice (Oryza sativa L.) under the influence of three selected post emergence herbicides and seedling age. The climate of the area is semi-arid with average rainfall of 550-650mm per annum. Temperature averages between 14 – 30 0C during dry season and 27-410C during the rainy season. Treatments consisted of three ages of seedling (10, 17 and 24 days old) fourteen weed control methods namely: Bracer at 0.025, Bracer at 0.027, Bracer at 0.030, and Bracer at 0.032kg a.i.ha-1), Bracerplus at 0.021, Bracerplus at 0.023, Bracerplus at 0.025, and Bracerplus at 0.027kg a.i.ha-1, Nomineegold at 0.020, Nomineegold at 0.030, Nomineegold at 0.040 and Nomineegold at 0.050 kg a.i.ha-1, hoe weeding at 4 and 8 weeks after transplanting, and weedy check. The treatments were laid out in a split plot arrangement with three replications. Weed control treatments were allocated to the main plots, while age of seedlings were allocated to the subplots. Results of correlation analysis revealed a significant, strong and positive correlation between crop and yield parameters and a significant and negative correlation between either crops and weed parameters or yield and weed parameters. It is recommended that weed growth should not be allowed to outweigh crop and yield production to avoid economic loss.