Herbicides and Wheat: Balancing Yields and Environmental Concerns

Wheat is of the most tremendous significance when it comes to food crops around the world. With a grain yield of 596.20 million tonnes, around 212.99 million acres of wheat are planted worldwide. It is the second-most significant food crop after rice in our country. Wheat, which makes up 85% of the entire area cultivated for wheat, is the most important species, followed by Triticum durum, which takes up 14% of the wheat area. The temperate zone's rabi crop, wheat, benefits significantly from the cool winters and hot summers. The most significant region for the cultivation of wheat is the Indo-Gangetic plain. 

 

From late October until May or June, crops are planted and harvested. Clayey loams and well-drained loams are favourable for wheat. Sandy loams and dark soils can also produce good wheat yields. The variety, weather, soil, irrigation system, etc., determine the best plant time. The best time to plant is when the daily average temperature is 20 to 22 °C. Thus, the second fortnight of November is the best period to seed in the northern plains. When the grain hardens, and the straw turns dry and brittle, the crop is ready to be picked. Rain is the primary source of irrigation for around 75% of wheat cultivation. In wheat zones, yearly rainfall ranges from 12.5 to 100 cm, mostly during summer or monsoon. From the above information, you can understand that farmers must take the utmost care to grow wheat. Farmers use wheat herbicide to grow wheat. In this post, we will discuss the effects of using herbicides on grain.

The effect of isoproturon was studied in two wheat weeds (Lolium rigidum Gaud.) and cultivars (Triticum sativum L. cvs. castan and esquilache), and it was shown that esquilache was significantly important in terms of root development suppression. Furthermore, isoproturon usage impacted the ultrastructure of the wheat cv: Esqilache photosynthetic system and reduced ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase activity. Protein and chlorophyll content were both found to be declining. There was a low grain yield. Even after being exposed to 2 mg/kg of isoproturon, the amount of chlorophyll drastically dropped; it fell by 11% compared to the control. Lipid peroxidation occurred in the roots and leaves of wheat plants after isoproturon exposure. Control, hand weeding twice, and three concentrations of isoproturon (35 DAS), namely 1.0 kg/ha, 1.0 kg/ha + 0.1% surfactant, and 1.5 kg/ha, were included in the treatments. Wheat leaves treated with three isoproturon treatments had lower chlorophyll and sugar levels 30 days after the herbicide application.

Elodea densa and Ludwigia natans, two freshwater-rooted macrophytes, were examined for isoproturon bioaccumulation and its impacts. The findings revealed that E. densa cuttings were significantly growth-inhibited at isoproturon concentrations near 10 g/ L. After 24 hours of exposure to 2 g L-1 isoproturon, oxygen levels in the medium were weak but significantly decreased. 

Studies demonstrated that metribuzin, isoproturon, and diflufenican herbicidal treatments resulted in smaller plants, possibly due to their phytotoxic effects on wheat crops. Metribuzin and isoproturon-sulfentrazone-treated plots had the lowest plant height compared to other herbicides. Stress from oxidation was also brought on. According to an experiment, the evaluated doses of atrazine, isoproturon, and metribuzin considerably decreased the nodulation in green grams (nodule number and dry mass). 

The bare minimum amount of grain protein was attained at 400 g kg1 of isoproturon (124 mg g). An experiment was carried out to find out how wheat might react to the phenyl urea herbicide chlorotoluron. The experiment demonstrated that wheat (Triticum aestivum) experienced oxidative stress. The lipids in plant plasma membranes were peroxidized in treated plants, which displayed a buildup of O2 and H2O2 in the leaves. Isoproturon causes oxidative stress in Triticum aestivum. When isoproturon was present in modest concentrations (2 mg/kg), a significant reduction in chlorophyll content was seen. Isoproturon treatment at doses of 2, 3.5, 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg gradually slowed the growth of the shoots as measured by dry weight. The considerable inhibition only happened at doses of 10–20 mg/kg. The root length was reduced to 44% of the control during treatment with 20 mg/kg isoproturon. 

In an experiment, isoproturon was used to treat wheat, and the results showed that it caused H2O2 to accumulate in the leaves of seedlings that were ten days old. Ascorbate peroxidase activity was dramatically decreased, while SOD activity was significantly increased. Additionally, the movement of glutathione S-transferase decreased. When exposed to isoproturon, wheat plants' antioxidant enzyme activity significantly changed from the controls. When isoproturon was administered at doses up to 20 mg/kg, SOD activity was reduced. Additionally, isoproturon increased the activity of GST, a typical detoxifying enzyme.

Increased wheat production is required to feed the world's expanding population without heavily relying on fertilizers and herbicides, which can negatively impact the environment and human health. To increase agricultural productivity, weed management methods must be improved. Therefore, we must use environmentally friendly chemicals, such as plant hormones, which are effective weed killers, or choose crops that are herbicide resistant. Safer options for herbicides can also be an intelligent choice.

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