Abstract
Cassava (Manihot esculenta) yields are severely affected by the interference of weed plants. Using cover crops for weed control appears as a sustainable alternative practice because it maintains the soil covered and reduces the need for herbicides. The aim of this study was to assess cassava crop yields and the soil chemical properties as a function of use of cover crops for weed management. Treatments were three cover crops (Brachiaria ruziziensis, Canavalia ensiformis, and Mucuna pruriens), chemical control, mechanical control, and treatment with no weed control. Cover crops reduced the diversity of species and the quantity of individuals of the weed community in cassava cultivation. The treatments with chemical and physical weed control achieved higher yields. The cover crops B. ruziziensis and C. ensiformis increased cassava yields by 30% and 14%, respectively, when compared with the treatment with no control. The cover crops increased the pH, MO, K, Ca, and Mg values when compared with the treatments with chemical and mechanical weed control. Brachiaria ruziziensis and C. ensiformis are recommended as a cover plants in cassava production systems in the Amazon region. The use of cover crops associated with cassava is a sustainable management option because, in addition to the suppressive effect on weeds, cover crops improve the chemical properties of soil, which may contribute to increasing cassava production in the long term.
Highlights
Received: 16 December 2021Studies addressing sustainable alternatives for vegetable production are important, especially in the Amazon region, where preservation of the ecosystem is essential to maintain biodiversity
Cover crops changed the floristic composition of the weed community in cassava cultivation, reducing the diversity of species and the quantity of individuals
The cover crops B. ruziziensis and C. ensiformis increased fresh and dry matter of cassava roots when compared with the treatment with no control
Summary
Received: 16 December 2021Studies addressing sustainable alternatives for vegetable production are important, especially in the Amazon region, where preservation of the ecosystem is essential to maintain biodiversity. With respect to weed management by local producers, when not neglected, control is achieved by manual weeding, using hoes, a practice that is not totally viable due to the shortage of labor in addition to the weather conditions, such as high humidity and temperatures, which make it difficult to perform this practice [3]. For this reason, producers have been increasingly interested in using herbicides due to the small number of workers required, in addition to the high control efficacy and low production costs.
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