PRE-EMERGENT HERBICIDES BETWEEN THE ROWS OF COFFEE

Abstract

Brazil is currently established as the largest producer, exporter, and consumer of coffee in the world. The state of Minas Gerais alone represents more than half of the Brazilian coffee produced. However, the competition of coffee plants with weeds can generate a reduction in crop production, by promoting significant losses in the scale of coffee production. The objective of this study was to evaluate the weed control efficiency of four pre-emergent herbicides used in coffee crops. The design adopted was in randomized blocks, with four blocks and five treatments, with plots of 14.0 m². The use of flumioxazine + pyroxasulfone was tested; pyroxasulfone; indaziflam; and oxyfluorphen, which made up the treatments, in addition to the one where herbicides were not used. The evaluations took place 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, and 120 days after the application (DAA) of the treatments, which consisted of the quantification of weeds emerged by simple visual counting, using a 1.0 m² wooden square to be the representative plot of the area. The data collected until the end of the 120 DAA were submitted to analysis of variance and the means were compared by the Tukey test at 5% probability. At 15 DAA, there was no statistical difference between the treatments composed of flumioxazine + pyroxasulfone; and pyroxasulfone; inquire where all are efficient in weed control. After 30 days of treatment application, weed control was superior when flumioxazine + pyrosulfone was used about oxyfluorophem and control. The results showed the efficiency of the herbicides Flumioxazine + pyrosulfone and Indaziflam up to 45 days after application, consisting of herbicides with long-lasting residuals. At 60, 90, and 120 DAA, only the herbicide with the active ingredient Flumioxazine + pyrosulfone showed statistical difference about the control, but with control efficiency considered very low (50.0%; 45.0% and 38.8% respectively) about the control. Although there is a residual effect, it is necessary to reapply herbicides after 45 years post-application so that weed control is efficient so as not to promote competition between them and coffee plants. It was concluded that the herbicide Flumioxazine + pyroxasulfone demonstrated a greater capacity to suppress weed emergence in up to 45 days, after which it is necessary to reapply the product.