COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF SELECTED PRE-EMERGENCE HERBICIDES FOR WEED CONTROL IN COCOYAM (Xanthosoma sagittifolium L.) PRODUCTION

Abstract

Weed control being a very important operation in the production of cocoyam is costly, therefore, there is a need to evaluate the most economically viable method of weed control for the purpose of minimizing production cost to maximize profit. The experiment was conducted in 2018 at the Ido farm settlement in Ibadan, Oyo State. The experiment involved five pre-emergence herbicides (Diuron 3.2 kg a.i/ha, Indaziflam + Ixoxaflutole 300 g a.i/ha, Flumioxazin + Pyroxasulfone 0.32 kg a.i/ha, Sulfentrazone 600 g a.i/ha, S-Metolachlor + Atrazine 2.64 kg a.i/ha), weed free and weed check (control) laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with four replicates. Data were collected on corm and cormel yield parameters, inputs, and costs including revenue associated with herbicide and manual weeding treatments used in benefit: cost ratio analysis. Results showed that Diuron (6.7 t/ha) and Sulfentrazone (9.4 t/ha) gave better cormel and corm yield respectively than the other treatments. The highest benefit-cost ratio was achieved from Diuron-treated plots (4.97). Sulfentrazone and Flumioxazin + Pyroxasulfone treated plots also had a benefit-cost ratio of  2.86 and 2.76 respectively. Indaziflam + Ixoxaflutole and Metolachlor + Atrazine had a similar benefit-cost ratio of 2.71. A low benefit-cost ratio (1.99 ) was produced in weed-free plots while a benefit-cost ratio of less than 1 was observed in weedy check plots (0.76). Therefore, the highest net benefit with a high benefit-cost ratio can be achieved by using Diuron, Flumioxazin + Pyroxasulfone, Sulfentrazone as pre-emergence herbicides in cocoyam production.