IOSR Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Science (IOSR-JAVS) e-ISSN: 2319-2380, p-ISSN: 2319-2372. Volume 13, Issue 1 Ser. IV (January 2020), PP 09-12 www.iosrjournals.org DOI: 10.9790/2380-1301040912 www.iosrjournals.org 9 | Page Evaluation of weed control methods on maize production in Afgoi District, Somalia Mohamed Haji Mayow 1 , Hassan Nuur Ismaan *1 , Yusuf Hasan 1 , HusniAbdirahim Muse 1 , A. Abiikar 1 , Omar Hajji Hussein Akila 1 , Hassan Mirkey 1 and Mohamed Khadar Abdi 1 1 Somali Agricultural Research and Technology Centre (SARTEC) Corresponding Author: Hassan Nuur Ismaan Abstract: A field experiment was conducted at the experimental farm of Agricultural Training and Education Centre (ATEC) in Gu’ season, 2019 (April-June), Afgoi, Somalia. The seeds of the single maize variety(Somtux variety) were used in this experiment. Seeds were sown on 28 April with spacing of 75x30cm. The experiment was laid out in a randomized completely block design (RCBD) with four replications. Weed control methods viz. Post emergence herbicide (NICO SULFURON @2 L ha -1 ), one hand weeding, two hand weeding, three hand weeding, four hand weeding and no weeding (Control) were allocated to plots randomly and the gross plot size was 7x6.4m. Three sample plants were randomly selected from each plot and marked with the tag for recording plant characters. Data on Plant stand per meter square plant height, the number of cobs plant -1 , 100- seed weight, grain yield; straw yield, biological yield, and harvest index were recorded at harvest. The data were analyzed with the help of a computer using MSTAT-C program (Gomez and Gomez, 1984). The treatment means were compared using Duncan’s multiple range test (DMRT) (Duncan, 1955). The result showed that that four hand weeding and post emergence of NICO SULFURON @ 2 L ha -1 approved the highest grain yield (5092.53 and 5029.57 kg ha -1 ) respectively and it was found to be the most effective weed control methods as compared to the other treatments. Key words: maize, weeds, hand weeding, herbicideand weed control -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date of Submission: 13-01-2020 Date of Acceptance: 29-01-2020 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. Introduction Maize is one of the most significant cereal crops in the world agricultural economy both as food for man and feed for animals. It is a wonderful crop. Itsyield potential is very high and there is no other cereals can be compared with maize crop which has so massive potentiality and this is the reason named ‘King of cereals’. Maize occupies third position in the cereals production after rice and wheat, although in productivity it exceeds all cereals.Maize is one of the most important cereal crops in Somalia and it is staple food for Somalia. It is grown in rainy seasons mainlyGu’ (Spring) season but it can grow in all the seasons if irrigation water is available. It plays vital role in boosting economy and living standard of Somali small scale farmers by consuming the maize as food and animal feed and every household consumes once a day or every other day. But in Somalia, there many challenges hindering maize production including insect pests, diseases and weeds. In respect with the on farm problems, weed ranks the third challenge facing maize in Somalia. Critical period for crop weed competition of maize crop are considered the first 30-60 days after sowing as (Dasset al., 2012). Weeds compete for water and nutrient in soil and also light and space so they do not allow growingcrop plants. At early stage of development if maize plant do not get nutrient and water from the soil then plant remains dwarf and subsequently stunned growth thus become less enable to absorb nutrients from soil.Weed control is important to the success of maize production because weeds can reduce yield up to 86% (Bijanzadeh and Ghadiri, 2006). Weed control methods in maize caused in 77 to 96.7% higher yield than weed check (Khan et al., 1998).There are many weed control methods such as cultural, biological, mechanical and chemical methods. Chemical weed control along with hand weeding significantly increased the grain yield of maize. As there are disadvantages of every weed control method there integrated weed management is a good option for sustainable agriculture (Khan et al., 2002). Keeping this challenge in view, this experiment was undertaken to study the "effect of different weed management control methods on growth an yield of maize (Zea mays L.)"