Impact of fertilization and weed control treatments on annual weed control and peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) productivity

During the succeeding summers of 2020 and 2021, two field experiments were set up in Ismailia Agricultural Research Station, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt to study the effect of three fertilizer levels (20 kg N + 15 kg P+ 24 kg K per feddan) (feddan = 4200 m² = 0.420 hectares = 1.037 acres), (40 kg N +30 kg P+ 48 kg K per feddan) and (60 kg N+45 kg P+ 72 kg K per feddan) and six weed control treatments (Amex 48% EC at rate 1.5 L / feddan applied, Cougar 40% EC at rate 2.0 L / feddan, Stomp extra 46% CS at rate 1.5 L / feddan, Bazagran 48% AS at rate 0.75  L/ feddan + Fusilade super 12.5%  EC at rate 1.0 L / feddan, Hand hoeing twice at 30 and 45 days from sowing and unweeded control) on control annual weeds, yield and its components of peanut and oil%. The treatments were set up in a split plot design, fertilizer levels were placed in the main plots, and weed control treatments were placed in sub-plots. The results revealed that fertilizer level N60P45K72 increased the dry weight of total annual weeds (g/m2) by 99.3 and 109.6% in the 2020 and 2021 seasons, respectively, as compared with N20P15K24. Fertilizer level N60P45K72 increased pod yield (ardeb/feddan) (Ardeb = 5.44 imperial or 5.619 U.S. bushels) by 29.4 and 25.7% in the first and second seasons, respectively, compared with fertilizer level N20P15K24. Weed control treatments reduced the dry weight of the total weeds (g/m2) at 75 days after sowing. The treatments used (Bazagran + Fusilade super), hand hoeing twice, and Stomp extra decreased the dry weight of total annual weeds 75 days after sowing by 85, 78%, and 78% in the 2020 season and 85.1, 77.5%, and 76.3% in the 2021 season, respectively as compared with unweeded check. The same treatments increased pod yield (ardeb/feddan) by 160.5, 147.1, and 142.6% in the 2020 season and by 195.4, 185.7, and 164.8% in the 2021 season, respectively, compared to the unweeded check. The interaction between fertilizer level N20P15K24 and weed control treatments (Bazagran + Fusilade super), hand hoeing twice, and Stomp extra resulted in the highest reduction in dry weight of total annual weeds at 75 days after sowing in both seasons compared with fertilizer level N60P45K72 and unweeded check. The interaction between fertilizer level N60P45K72 and weed control treatments (Bazagran + Fusilade super), hand hoeing twice, and Stomp extra resulted in the highest pod yield and its components in both seasons, compared with fertilizer level N20P15K24 and unweeded check. Thus, from this study the best package for growing peanut in sandy soil by fertilities peanut with level N60P45K72 and used one of treatments (Bazagran at rate 0.75 L / feddan after 21 days from sowing +Fusilade super at rate 1 L / feddan after 30 days from sowing) or hand hoeing twice at 30 and 45 days from sowing or Stomp extra at rate 1.5 L / feddan (after sowing and before irrigation) which gave the highest control of annual weeds and the highest pods yield / feddan under Ismailia governorate area conditions, Egypt.