DOI: 10.5061/dryad.fn2z34v66
title: Data from: Herbicide screening and application method development for sustainable weed management in Tagetes erecta L. fields

description: Tagetes erecta L. (marigold), a crop of significant medicinal, ornamental,
 and economic value, faces severe industrialization challenges due to
 weed-induced yield losses (up to 60%). This study aims to identify safe
 and highly efficient herbicides for marigold, assess their effects on
 dominant weeds and crop safety, and provide a practical basis for
 large-scale cultivation. We evaluated 11 pre-emergence herbicides, 13
 post-emergence herbicides, and agronomic practices (plastic mulch) through
 three field trials to optimize weed control, crop safety, and
 productivity. In Experiment 1, pre-emergence applications of pendimethalin
 (35% SC) and oxyfluorfen (240 g/L EC) under plastic mulch suppressed
 85–99% of grass and broad-leaved weeds, elevating marigold yield to
 1,655.6 kg/667 m² and increasing lutein content by 10.7% compared to
 controls, with no phytotoxicity to subsequent wheat or broad beans.
 Experiment 2 demonstrated that post-cultivation soil treatment with
 metolachlor · oxyfluorfen · pendimethalin (50% EC) enhanced weed
 suppression (47.8–53.6%) and yield (3.4% increase) while ensuring crop
 safety. Experiment 3 revealed that the post-emergence herbicides
 haloxyfop-P-methyl (108 g/L EC) and fomesafen (250 g/L SL) achieved over
 92% reduction in grass weed biomass and over 75% reduction in broadleaf
 weed density, respectively, alongside a 6.1% yield improvement. Therefore,
 region-specific strategies are recommended based on local agronomic
 conditions: high-value production zones should adopt integrated systems
 combining plastic mulch with pre-emergence herbicides; arid lands with
 extended crop rotation intervals require pre-emergence herbicides after
 intertillage and earthing-up; labor-abundant regions can rotate targeted
 post-emergence herbicides to delay resistance evolution. This study
 provides data-driven optimization strategies for comprehensive weed
 management in marigold fields, offering practical solutions to enhance
 industrial productivity and ecological sustainability.
description: # Data from: Herbicide screening and application method development for
 sustainable weed management in Tagetes erecta L. fields Dataset DOI:
 [10.5061/dryad.fn2z34v66](10.5061/dryad.fn2z34v66) ## Description of the
 data and file structure At different growth stages of marigolds, we
 conducted three separate experiments in both two experimental sites.
 Experiment 1 involved a pre-emergent soil treatment using 11 herbicides.
 In Experiment 2, soil treatment with 12 herbicides was conducted after
 intertillage and earthing-up, approximately 45 days after the marigold
 transplanting. In Experiment 3, a post-emergent treatment was applied
 using 13 herbicides, approximately 30 days after cultivation and earthing
 up. In experiment 1, we measured the efficacy of the number of plants
 control after 20 days of treatment, in experiment 2 and experiment 3, we
 conducted two surveys,  the first to calculate the efficacy of plants
 control, and the second to calculate the efficacy of plants control and
 fresh weight control. Meanwhile, in each survey, we recorded the plant
 height, stem diameter, and leaf color of marigolds. In one of the
 experimental sites, we measured the lutein content and yield of marigolds
 in the three experiments, respectively.  After harvesting the marigolds,
 we planted wheat and broad beans in the treatment plots of one of the
 experimental sites. We recorded the seedling emergence rates for both
 wheat and broad bean seedlings. Additionally, we measured the plant height
 and fresh weight of the wheat and broad beans. ### Files and variables
 #### File: weed\_control\_in\_experiment\_1.csv **Description:** The
 control effect of different treatments on weeds in experiment 1 #####
 Variables * experimental site: Including the two experimental sites of
 Lingjiao and Deze * treatments: Including 11 herbicides * plot: Each
 treatment had three plots * number of gramineous weeds: The number of
 gramineous weeds in each plot after treatment * fresh weight of gramineous
 weeds (g): The fresh weight of gramineous weeds in each plot after
 treatment * number of broad-leaved weeds: The number of broad-leaved weeds
 in each plot after treatment * fresh weight of Broad-leaveds weeds
 (g): The fresh weight of broad-leaved weeds in each plot after treatment
 #### File: weed\_control\_in\_experiment\_2.csv **Description:** The
 control effect of different treatments on weeds in experiment 2 #####
 Variables * experimental site for controlling gramineous: Including the
 two experimental sites of Lingjiao and Deze * treatments for controlling
 gramineous weeds: Including 12 herbicides * plots for controlling
 gramineous: Each treatment had three plots * number of gramineous weeds in
 15 DAT: The first survey for number of gramineous weeds * number of
 gramineous weeds in 30 DAT: The second survey for number of gramineous
 weeds * fresh weight of gramineous weeds (g) in 30 DAT: The second survey
 for fresh weight of gramineous weeds * experimental site for controlling
 broad-leaved weeds: Including the two experimental sites of Lingjiao and
 Deze * treatments for controlling broad-leaved weeds:  Including 12
 herbicides * plots for controlling broad-leaved weeds: Each treatment had
 three plots * number of broad-leaved weeds in 15 DAT: The first survey
 for number of broad-leaved weeds * number of broad-leaved weeds in 30
 DAT: The second survey for number of broad-leaved weeds * fresh weight of
 broad-leaved weeds (g) in 30 DAT: The second survey for fresh weight of
 broad-leaved weeds #### File: weed\_control\_in\_experiment\_3.csv
 **Description:**  The control effect of different treatments on weeds in
 experiment 3 ##### Variables * experimental site: Including the two
 experimental sites of Lingjiao and Deze * treatments: Including 13
 herbicides * plot: Each treatment had three plots * number of gramineous
 weeds in 15 DAT: The first survey for number of gramineous weeds * number
 of gramineous weeds in 30 DAT: The second survey for number of gramineous
 weeds * fresh weight of gramineous weeds (g) in 30 DAT: The second survey
 for fresh weight of gramineous weeds * number of broad-leaved weeds in 15
 DAT: The first survey for number of broad-leaved weeds * number of
 broad-leaved weeds in 30 DAT: The second survey for number of broad-leaved
 weeds * fresh weight of broad-leaved weeds (g) in 30 DAT: The second
 survey for fresh weight of broad-leaved weeds * #### File:
 growth\_of\_marigold\_in\_experiment\_1.csv **Description:**  Measurement
 of two growth indicators of marigold after different treatments in
 experiment 1 ##### Variables * Experimental Site for First
 Survey: Including the two experimental sites of Lingjiao and Deze *
 Treatments for First Survey: Including 11 herbicides * Plots for First
 Survey: Each treatment including 12 plots * Height (cm) for First Survey:
 The growth indicator of marigold * Stem diameter (mm) for First Survey:
 The growth indicator of marigold * Colour for First Survey: The growth
 indicator of marigold * Experimental Site for Second Survey:  Including
 the two experimental sites of Lingjiao and Deze * Treatments for Second
 Survey: Including 11 herbicides * Plots for Second Survey: Each treatment
 including 9 plots * Height (cm) for Second Survey: The growth indicator of
 marigold * Stem diameter (mm) for Second Survey: The growth indicator of
 marigold * Colour for Second Survey: The growth indicator of marigold *
 “null” in some cells indicates missing values #### File:
 growth\_of\_marigold\_in\_experiment\_2.csv **Description:** Measurement
 of two growth indicators of marigold after different treatments in
 experiment 2 ##### Variables * Experimental Site for First
 Survey: Including the two experimental sites of Lingjiao and Deze *
 Treatments for First Survey: Including 12 herbicides * Plots for First
 Survey: Each treatmen had 12 plots * Height (cm) for First Survey: The
 growth indicator of marigold * Stem diameter (mm) for First Survey: The
 growth indicator of marigold * Colour for First Survey: The growth
 indicator of marigold * Experimental Site for Second Survey: Including the
 two experimental sites of Lingjiao and Deze * Treatments for Second
 Survey: Including 12 herbicides * Plots for Second Survey: Each treatment
 had 9 plots * Height (cm) for Second Survey: The growth indicator of
 marigold * Stem diameter (mm) for Second Survey: The growth indicator of
 marigold * Colour for Second Survey: The growth indicator of marigold *
 “null” in some cells indicates missing values #### File:
 growth\_of\_marigold\_in\_experiment\_3.csv **Description:** Measurement
 of two growth indicators of marigold after different treatments in
 experiment 3 ##### Variables * Experimental Site: Including the two
 experimental sites of Lingjiao and Deze * Treatments: Including 13
 herbicides * Plots: Each treatmen had 9 plots * Height (cm) for First
 Survey: The growth indicator of marigold * Stem diameter (mm) for First
 Survey: The growth indicator of marigold * Colour for First Survey: The
 growth indicator of marigold * Height (cm) for Second Survey: The growth
 indicator of marigold * Stem diameter (mm) for Second Survey: The growth
 indicator of marigold * Colour for Second Survey: The growth indicator of
 marigold * “null” in some cells indicates missing values #### File:
 lutein\_in\_experiment\_1.csv **Description:**  The effect of different
 treatments on the content of lutein in marigold in experiment 1 #####
 Variables * treatment: Including 11 herbicides * lutein content
 (g/kg): Lutein content of marigold * water content %: Water content of
 marigold #### File: lutein\_in\_experiment\_2.csv **Description:** The
 effect of different treatments on the content of lutein in marigold in
 experiment 2 ##### Variables * treatment: Including 12 herbicides * lutein
 content (g/kg): Lutein content of marigold * water content %: Water
 content of marigold #### File: lutein\_in\_experiment\_3.csv
 **Description:** The effect of different treatments on the content of
 lutein in marigold in experiment 3 ##### Variables * treatment: Including
 13 herbicides * lutein content (g/kg): Lutein content of marigold * water
 content %: Water content of marigold #### File:
 yield\_of\_marigold\_in\_experiment\_1.csv **Description:**  The yield of
 marigold in experiment 1 ##### Variables * treatments: Including 11
 herbicides * plot: Each treatment had three plots * Flowers of Three
 Plants: The number of flowers of three marigold * Flowers of Per
 Plant: The number of flowers of per marigold * Weight of Three
 Plants:  The weight of flowers of three marigold * Weight of Per
 Plant: The weight of flowers of per marigold * Yield (kg/667m2): The yield
 of marigold #### File: yield\_of\_marigold\_in\_experiment\_2.csv
 **Description:** The yield of marigold in experiment 2 ##### Variables *
 treatments: Including 12 herbicides * plot: Each treatment had three plots
 * Flowers of Two Plants: The number of flowers of two marigold * Flowers
 of Per Plant: The number of flowers of per marigold * Weight of Two
 Plants: The weight of flowers of two marigold * Weight of Per Plant: The
 weight of flowers of per marigold * Yield (kg/667m2): The yield of
 marigold #### File: yield\_of\_marigold\_in\_experiment\_3.csv
 **Description:** The yield of marigold in experiment 3 ##### Variables *
 treatments: Including 13 herbicides * plot: Each treatment had three plots
 * Flowers of Three Plants: The number of flowers of three marigold *
 Flowers of Per Plant: The number of flowers of per marigold * Weight of
 Three Plants: The weight of flowers of three marigold * Weight of Per
 Plant: The weight of flowers of per marigold * Yield (kg/667m2): The yield
 of marigold #### File: growth\_of\_following\_crops\_in\_experiment\_1.csv
 **Description:** Measurement of two growth indicators of following crops
 after different treatments in experiment 1 ##### Variables * Treatments
 for Seedling Emergence: Including 11 herbicides - Plots for Seedling
 Emergence: Each treatment had three plots * Number of Wheat Seedling
 Emergence: The number of wheat seedlings - Number of Broad bean Seedling
 Emergence: The number of broad bean seedlings * Seedling Emergence Rate
 (%) of Wheat: The seedling emergence rate of wheat - Seedling Emergence
 Rate (%) of Broad bean: The seedling emergence rate of broad bean *
 Treatments for Heigh of Wheat: Including 11 herbicides - Plots for Height
 of Wheat: Each treatment had 12 plots * Plant Height (cm) of Wheat: The
 height of wheat - Treatments for height of Broad bean: Including 11
 herbicides * Plot for height of Broad bean: Each treatment had 9 plots -
 Plant Height (cm) of Broad bean: The height of broad bean * Treatments for
 Fresh weight: Including 11 herbicides - Plots for Fresh weight: Each
 treatment had three plots * Fresh weight (g) of Four Wheat: The fresh
 weight of four wheat - Fresh weight (g) of Three Broad bean: The fresh
 weight of three broad bean * Fresh weight (g) of Per Wheat: The fresh
 weight of per wheat - Fresh weight (g) of Per Broad bean: The fresh weight
 of per broad bean * “null” in some cells indicates missing values ####
 File: growth\_of\_following\_crops\_in\_experiment\_2.csv
 **Description:**  Measurement of two growth indicators of following crops
 after different treatments in experiment 2 ##### Variables * Treatments
 for Seedling Emergence: Including 12 herbicides - Plots for Seedling
 Emergence: Each treatment had three plots * Number of Wheat Seedling
 Emergence: The number of wheat seedlings - Number of Broad bean Seedling
 Emergence: The number of broad bean seedlings * Seedling Emergence Rate
 (%) of Wheat: The seedling emergence rate of wheat - Seedling Emergence
 Rate (%) of Broad bean: The seedling emergence rate of broad bean *
 Treatments for Height  of Wheat: Including 12 herbicides - Plots for
 Height of Wheat: Each treatment had 12 plots * Plant Height (cm) of Wheat:
 The height of wheat - Treatments for height of Broad bean: Including 12
 herbicides * Plot for height of Broad bean: Each treatment had 9 plots -
 Plant Height (cm) of Broad bean: The height of broad bean * Treatments for
 Fresh weight: Including 12 herbicides - Plots for Fresh weight: Each
 treatment had three plots * Fresh weight (g) of Four Wheat: The fresh
 weight of four wheat - Fresh weight (g) of Three Broad bean: The fresh
 weight of three broad bean * Fresh weight (g) of Per Wheat: The fresh
 weight of per wheat - Fresh weight (g) of Per Broad bean: The fresh weight
 of per broad bean - “null” in some cells indicates missing values ####
 File: growth\_of\_following\_crops\_in\_experiment\_3.csv
 **Description:**  Measurement of two growth indicators of following crops
 after different treatments in experiment 3 ##### Variables * Treatments
 for Seedling Emergence: Including 13 herbicides - Plots for Seedling
 Emergence: Each treatment had three plots * Number of Wheat Seedling
 Emergence: The number of wheat seedlings - Number of Broad bean Seedling
 Emergence: The number of broad bean seedlings * Seedling Emergence Rate
 (%) of Wheat: The seedling emergence rate of wheat - Seedling Emergence
 Rate (%) of Broad bean: The seedling emergence rate of broad bean *
 Treatments for Height  of Wheat: Including 13 herbicides - Plots for
 Height of Wheat: Each treatment had 12 plots * Plant Height (cm) of Wheat:
 The height of wheat - Treatments for heigh of Broad bean: Including 13
 herbicides * Plot for height of Broad bean: Each treatment had 9 plots -
 Plant Height (cm) of Broad bean: The height of broad bean * Treatments for
 Fresh weight: Including 13 herbicides - Plots for Fresh weight: Each
 treatment had three plots * Fresh weight (g) of Four Wheat: The fresh
 weight of four wheat - Fresh weight (g) of Three Broad bean: The fresh
 weight of three broad bean * Fresh weight (g) of Per Wheat: The fresh
 weight of per wheat - Fresh weight (g) of Per Broad bean: The fresh weight
 of per broad bean - “null” in some cells indicates missing values ####
 File: meteorological\_data\_for\_experiment\_1.csv **Description:** The
 meteorological data in experiment 1 ##### Variables * Experimental
 site: Including the two experimental sites of Lingjiao and Deze * Date:
 The time period during experimental operation * Time: The specific time
 point * Air Temperature (degree C): The air temperature * Humidity
 (%): The air humidity * Precipitation (mm/h): The precipitation * Wind
 Direction: The wind direction #### File:
 meteorological\_data\_for\_experiment\_2.csv **Description:** The
 meteorological data in experiment 2 ##### Variables * Experimental site:
 Including the two experimental sites of Lingjiao and Deze * Date: The time
 period during experimental operation * Time:  The specific time point *
 Air Temperature (degree C): The air temperature * Humidity (%): The air
 humidity * Precipitation (mm/h): The precipitation #### File:
 meteorological\_data\_for\_experiment\_3.csv **Description:** The
 meteorological data in experiment 3 ##### Variables * Experimental
 site: Including the two experimental sites of Lingjiao and Deze *
 Date: The time period during experimental operation * Time: The specific
 time point * Air Temperature (degree C): The air temperature * Humidity
 (%): The air humidity * Precipitation (mm/h): The precipitation ## Access
 information Other publicly accessible locations of the data: * None Data
 was derived from the following sources: * None