Evaluation of Basta (glufosinate ammonium ) for weed control in Coffee

Studies were conducted into the efficacy of Basta (Glufosinate ammonium) for weed control in coffee plantations. In field studies at three different locations, the effectiveness of weed control with Basta was compared with Gramoxone (paraquat), Paracol (paraquat + diuron), Gardoprim (terbuthylazine) and manual weeding. Basta at the rate of 0.6 - 1.0 kg a.i./ha effectively controlled most of the weeds found in coffee growing areas of Ghana, over much longer periods than the use of paraquat at the rate of 0.3 - 0.6 kg a.i./ha. However both herbicides could not effectively suppress perennial weeds such as Imperata cylindrica, Panicum maximum, Commelina spp, sedges and saplings of some dicots. Paracol and Gardoprim suppressed these perennial weeds better than Basta or Gramoxone. Although the application of Basta at a rate of 1.0 kg a.i/ha was more effective in controlling weeds than Basta at 0.6 - 0.8 kg/ha or paraquat at 0.3 - 0.6kg a.i/ha, this was not reflected in the yield of coffee. Generally, controlling weeds with Basta did not lead to a significant increase in the yield of coffee over that of paraquat JOURNAL OF THE GHANA SCIENCE ASSOCIATION Volume 1 Number 1, July (1998) pp. 60-6