¹Faculty of Plantation and Agrotechnology, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia

²Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia

³BASF, Malaysia

Email: noornaylijabit@gmail.com

Weeds have always been a major pest in most plantation areas. The problem that arises due to weed invasion has increased significantly and gives big impact on the yield of the oil palm. Herbicides application is the most preferable method in modern technology as it will give fast and best result afterwards. This study was carried out with the aims to compare the effectiveness of premium and generic herbicides formulated with Glufosinate ammonium (GA) combating weed infestation in oil palm plantation. Seven herbicides treatments consisting of Basta 15, Genee 15, Fosinate 15, Bufos 135, Kenbast 15, Tarang with Miracle, Tarang without Miracle, and control were applied at two- and half-year oil palm tree. Each herbicides treatment covering 3 oil palm trees with 4 replications following Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) arrangements. The efficacy comparison of all herbicides was recorded at 7, 14, 28 and 56 days after application (daa) of herbicides. Data on weed injury and weed scorching were compared through visual assessment and analysed with SAS software. Prior to herbicides application, weed surveying was conducted to identify dominant weed population infested oil palm area. Asystasia gangetica, Ageratum conyzoides, Paspalum scrobiculatum, Momordica charanthia, Cyperus indica, Eleusine indica, Mimosa invisa, Borreria setidens and Digitaria cilirialis were found as dominant weed species with more than 60% recorded in quadrat sampling at experimental area. Basta 15 exhibited consistent weed injury upon dominant and other weed species at 7, 14, 28 and 56 daa. Results showed Basta 15, Fosinate 135 and Bufos 135 caused approximately 80% weed injury as early as 7daa. Basta 15 performed highest weed injury at 14 daa nearly 100% while other herbicides showed less than 95%. Upon 56daa, Basta 15 still consistently provided highest weed injury more than 30% compared with other herbicides less than 25%. Generally, referring to visual observation and statistical analysis, BASTA 15 showed similar results which surpass other herbicides treatments and caused approximately 90% weed injury. It was then followed by Fosinate 135, Genee 15, Bufos 135, Tarang with Miracle, Kenbast 15 and Tarang without Miracle which performed in a range 70% to 80% throughout the sampling dates. BASTA 15 also caused weeds regenerated at lowest percentage less than 35% at 56 DAA while other GA herbicides exhibited more than 42%. Result from this study indicated Basta 15 performed consistently against general weed infestation and selected dominant weed species whereas other herbicides applied was portrayed inconsistent outcome throughout the study.