Selectivity of herbicides applied, in pre-emergence, during the establishment phase of sugarcane

Abstract

Sugarcane is a very important crop in the history of Brazil, since the period of colonization. Among the factors that affect its yield in commercial areas, weeds could be highlighted. Appropriate management strategies are essential to mitigate this interference and increase crop productivity. In this sense, the aim was to evaluate the effect of different control methods on weed management, in the pre-emergence of two varieties, of cane-plant. The experiment was conducted at Primavera Farm, Itambé (PE), in randomized blocks, in a 2x5 factorial scheme, with 4 replications. The first factor represented two varieties of sugarcane (RB867515 and RB92579) and the second five weed control methods (weed control, absolute control, s-metalochlor + tebuthiuron, sulfentrazone and oxyfluorfen). The number of tillers per linear meter, degree of phytotoxicity and weed control were evaluated. At the end of the research, the RB92579 variety can be used as an alternative for the weed control because it presents rapid sprouting and initial development and more aggressive tillering than RB867515, under Itambé (PE) soil conditions. It is recommended the use of sulfentrazone at the dose of 1.8 L.ha-1.p.c, for better residual effect and "sufficient" control of weeds in the stage of establishment of the culture.