A comparison of herbicide mixtures as labor saving technology in Nwoya district

Sneyers Koen - Lanek Polycarp Robert Ogweng

ZOA Uganda - October 2015

INTRODUCTION

Intensification of the smallholder agricultural sector in Uganda strongly depends on the use
of agro chemicals and fertilizer inputs. ZOA Uganda made a strategic choice to further
explore the potential of herbicide in its agricultural programming for Acholi sub region.
Under its project Farmer led soil innovations to sustain food security ZOA identified pilot
farmers who already had positive experiences with the integration of herbicides in their
farming system. Through participatory on farm discussions between users, integration of
these inputs is being finetuned to achieve higher efficiency rates. In order to further
understand the benefits and limitations of herbicides, ZOA set up a practical experiments to
study its effectiveness at a controlled site in Anaka, Nwoya district.

METHODOLOGY.

The ZOA Farmer Resource Centre in Anaka is a controlled environment where field trials
are conducted and farmer communities exposed to improved production practices. The
research site is characterized by sandy clay loam and fairly high organic matter content (56%) with deficient P values (10-30ppm)1. The site is located along the Gulu-Olwiyo
highway in the Amuru-Gulu Groudnut, Rice, Sorghum and Livestock zone (LHZ 172).
During the 2nd season of 2015 5 plots of 3m x 20m were set out at the site on fallow land
which was fallow the season before. Weeds were slashed 2 weeks prior to herbicide
application. Each plot was treated with a different mixture dissolved in 1l volume of water.
Solutions were mixed on the spot and applied by use of a Jacktoe 16l manual spraypump
with flat fan nozzle. Calibration of the walking speed ensured full application of the mixture
of 1l over the 60m2 area. The application occurred during morning hours and no rain
occurred later in the day.
Similarly 8 pilot farmers applied a standard mixture of glyphosate at their farm trial plots
scattered over Nwoya district. Technical guidance was provided through practical training

1
2

IFDC/ISSD Soil maps 2014

FEWSNET, Livelihood zoning and mapping exercise Uganda, 2010

prior to the season and is in line with the technical booklet `Safe and correct use of
herbicides` as developed by ZOA Uganda.
Mixtures were based on 3 products and dissolved in water originating from a surface water
source. Weedall and Willosate (active ingredient N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine or
glyphosate 360 g/l), 2-4-D (active ingredient 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid 720 g/l) and
Diesel fuel. Weedall and Willosate are both common non selective herbicides. The first one
was purchased from a local retailer in Gulu, the second one from the supplier EASeed in
Kampala directly.
Overview of the different mixtures applied at the research site
Per acre

Per spray pump (16l)

Treatment

Glyphosate
(ml)

2-4 D
(ml)

Diesel
(ml)

Glyphosate
(ml)

2-4 D
(ml)

Diesel
(ml)

1,000

240

1,000

270

240

64

1,000

540

240

128

1,000

540

240

128

1,000

1,400

240

320

Effect of the mixture on the currently present range of weed species was analysed by visual
observation at 1 week, 2 weeks and 4 weeks after application. Effectiveness was rated at
the ordinal level as (0=none, 1=fair and 2=good). The following species were monitored
(functional of presence) at the trial plots:
Popular name
Spear grass
Wandering jew
Couch grass
Foxtail
Wild sunflower
Wild sorghum
Goat weed
Wild finger milet
Nutt grass
Guinea grass
Thatching grass
Congo signal
Rat tail
Milk weed
Cat tail

Scientific name
Imperata cylindrica
Commelina benghalensis
Digitaria abyssinica
Cenchrus ciliaris
Helianthus spp.
Sorghum spp
Ageratuem coyzides
Eleusine africana
Cyperus rotundus
Panicum maximum
Hyparrhenia rufa

Disocactus flagelliformis
Sporobolus pyramidalis

Overall effectiveness was calculated as the average score of all weed species present with a
maximum score of 100% in case all present species were affected as `good` (all ratings
2/2).
A Benefit Cost ratio was calculated by comparing the expected benefits from saved labor
for weeding and land opening. Benefits from saved labor on land opening were based on a
conservative cost of 10 mandays equal to 80,000 UGX which is saved when 2nd tillage is
replace by herbicide use. Benefits from saved labor on weeding (idem) was based on the
observation that farmers are able to skip a second weeding operation as soon as they see it
feasible. As such the opportunity cost of 160,000 UGX was corrected with the effectiveness
score of the herbicide mixtures. Total costs were compiled by summing chemical input
costs with a fixed fee which is linked to transaction costs (transport to trading centre) and
rent of spraying equipment.

RESULTS

The figures below show the observed impact of the mixtures on those weed species which
were present. Weeds which were present on less than 3 of the trial plots or weeds which
were not present on the first plot which acted as control (Weedall1000) were excluded
from the graphs.
At 2 weeks after herbicide application it is observed that the addition of 2,4D to the
standard mixture of glyphosate has a positive effect on Spear grass and Nutt grass. The
addition of Diesel appears to have a positive effect on Wild sorghum, Nutt grass and Congo
signal. However the effect is not consistent as increased Diesel concentration did not or
even negatively influence the effect. The glyphosate brand Willosate (applied on farm
plots) scored better than its competing brand Weedall (at the research site) for Spear grass
and Napier grass.
Weedall1000

Good

Weedall1000+2,4D270

Fair

Weedall1000+2,4D540
Weedall1000+Diesel560
Spear grass Wandering
jew

Wild
sorghum

Nutt grass Guinea grass Congo signal

Weedall1000+Diesel1400

Figure 1: Effectiveness of the herbicide mixtures on present weed species 2 weeks after application

At 4 weeks after herbicide application considerable re-growth of weeds was observed.

Effectiveness rating was less straightforward in absence of an objective decision
framework. In general it was observed that the addition of 2,4D had a positive effect for
Nutt grass, Guinea grass and Milk Weed.

Weedall1000
Good
Fair

Weedall1000+2,4D270
Weedall1000+2,4D540
Weedall1000+Diesel560
Spear grass Wandering
jew

Wild
sorghum

Nutt grass Guinea grass Congo signal Milk weed

Weedall1000+Diesel1400

Figure 2: Effectiveness of the herbicide mixtures on present weed species 4 weeks after application

The calculated values of average effectiveness indicate a time trend of observable effect
over the 3 observation moments. For most treatments the observable effect increases until
week 2 and is clearly reduced 4 weeks after application.
Time of
observation

Weedall1000

Weedall1000+
2,4D270

Weedall1000+
2,4D540

Weedall1000+
Diesel560

Weedall1000+
Diesel1400

1WAP

10%

50%

33%

50%

67%

2WAP

43%

50%

50%

75%

64%

4WAP

21%

43%

20%

20%

0%

Willowsate1440

Willowsate1000
(farmer plots)

50%

91%

The cost benefit ratio of observable effects on the weed species shows that for most of the
herbicide mixtures the expected benefits from saved labor stand about a factor 2 in relation
to the cost of the agro chemical and fixed costs related to the technology. Only for the
Willowsate brand in a sole concentration of 1000ml per acre an B/C ratio of 3.8 is achieved.

Glyphosate

2-4 D

Diesel

Transport &
rent

Total cost
(UGX/acre)

Average
effectiveness

Estimated
benefits
from saved
labor
(UGX/acre)

Weedall1000

18,225

20,000

38,225

43%

68,571

1.8

Weedall1000+2,4D270

18,225

6,750

20,000

43,625

50%

80,000

1.8

Weedall1000+2,4D540

18,225

13,500

20,000

49,025

50%

80,000

1.6

Weedall1000+Diesel560

18,225

1,890

20,000

40,115

75%

120,000

3.0

Weedall1000+Diesel1400

18,225

4,725

20,000

42,950

64%

102,857

2.4

Willowsate1440

26,244

20,000

46,244

50%

80,000

1.7

Willowsate1000

18,225

20,000

38,225

91%

145,556

3.8

Variable cost

Fixed cost

B/C ratio

DISCUSSION

Based on the limited observations from the study it appears that there is a visually clear
difference in performance between the 2 glyphosate based products. For most weed
species the Willosate product performs better than the Weedall brand. As most mixtures
were based on the lower performing Weedall it is not surprising that mixtures with
additives also performed below expectation. The results confirm the general perception
that quality of agro input available in rural areas is of mediocre quality and not able to
contribute to the profitability of small scale farming. The author wishes to remark that in a
previous trial with products purchased 3 months earlier from the same supplier, Weedall
did perform up to standard.
Out of the 3 monitoring moments (1,2 and 4 weeks) it is observed that 4 weeks after
application, herbicide effects were less visible. For the majority of the present weeds,
benefits appeared limited up to 2 weeks after application. Soon after this period, weed
germination over took the achieved suppression. Farmer discussions indicate that for
some crop combinations this might be sufficient to reduce weeding frequency from twice to
only once per season.
Benefits cost ratios of technologies are a critical factor influencing adoption by smallholder
farmers. With a ratio of 3.8 the Willosate product might have more chance to be adopted
than its lower performing competitor at 1.8, even when 2,4D herbicide is added to it. The
addition of Diesel as cheaper additive appears to have a positive impact on the C/B ratios,
however only at low concentration of l per acre.
Follow up research is recommended to further explore the benefits of the Diesel and 2,4D
additives on a standard mixture of the better performing Willosate product. Secondly it is
recommended that observations can be replicated at multiple plots in which the full range
of weed species is present.

ANNEX : PICTURES OF TRIAL PLOTS 1 WEEK AFTER APPLICATION

Plot 1 : Weedall1000

Plot 2: Weedall1000+2,4D270

Plot 3: Weedall1000+2,4D540

Plot 4: Weedall1000+Diesel560

Plot 5: Weedall1000+Diesel1400

Farmers trial plot Willosate1000