Weed interference in the initial growth of meristem-grown sugarcane plantlets

Ricardo J De Paula,Phelippe S H Ferreira,Clara D Esposti,Carlos R De Toffoli

doi:10.1590/1807-1929/agriambi.v22n9p634-639

Ricardo J De Paula, Phelippe S H Ferreira + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/1807-1929/agriambi.v22n9p634-639

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Abstract

ABSTRACT The use of new systems of sugarcane planting such as PleneTM, Plene EvolveTM, Plene PBTM and AgMusaTM requires specific studies on the initial interference of weed in the sugarcane crop. The objective of this study was to evaluate initial weed interference in meristem-grown sugarcane plantlets (Plene EvolveTM). The weed species used were Brachiaria decumbens and Panicum maximum, at four different densities (1, 2, 3 and 4 weed plants pot-1), plus a control treatment free from weed interference. The statistical design was completely randomized with four replicates per treatment, with an individual study for each weed species. The evaluations performed were: plant height at 45, 60 and 90 days after emergence (DAE), number of sugarcane tillers at 30, 60 and 90 DAE and dry matter of both sugarcane and weed plants at 90 DAE. B. decumbens and P. maximum caused reductions in the initial growth and development of sugarcane. P. maximum was more aggressive to meristem-grown sugarcane plants, during their early development, than B. decumbens.

Highlights

Planting is the most critical stage for a successful sugarcane field because this operation can directly interfere with its longevity, yield and economic return (Barros & Milan, 2010)
Treatments consisted of two weed species, Brachiaria decumbens and Panicum maximum, coexisting with the sugarcane plantlets at four densities of infestation: 1, 2, 3 and 4 weed plants per pot, which correspond to the densities of 3.8, 7.7, 11.5 and 15.4 plants m-2
According to the analysis of variance (Table 1), the two weed species only differed with respect to dry matter accumulation at 90 dias após a emergência (DAE) (p < 0.05)

Summary

Introduction

Planting is the most critical stage for a successful sugarcane field because this operation can directly interfere with its longevity, yield and economic return (Barros & Milan, 2010). It is the practice that most involves knowledge on soil-plantatmosphere relations (Beuclair & Scarpari, 2006), besides having direct influence on the reduction of production costs (Silva Júnior et al, 2010). Since 2013, companies of the sugarcane sector have worked with technologies of planting one-eye (single-bud) sets, which include Plene Evolve®. In Plene Evolve®, sugarcane is multiplied in laboratory through micropropagation. Among the main problems of a sugarcane field, weed interference stands out because the reduction in crop yield may reach 85% (Victoria Filho & Christoffoleti, 2004). Grass species of the genera Brachiaria and Panicum deserve attention because they are characterized as aggressive, with high capacity of adaptation to low-fertility soils and phenotypical plasticity for adaptation (Lorenzi, 2008; Santos et al, 2013; Fontes et al, 2014)

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