Abstract
The use of crop practices to reduce the weed community is an ally to integrated weed management. Given this, the study aimed to identify a composition and weed infestation in a soybean area under different predecessor crops implanted in different years. The experiment was carried out in the 2019/2020 harvest in Dourados, MS. The experimental design was a randomized block with nine treatments. The treatments were composed of autumn-winter crops. The area with predecessor cultivation: corn-Brachiaria intercropping; cowpea beans; single corn; an area with predecessor cultivation of Brachiaria as pasture for one year; two years; three years; four years; five years, and six years. All treatments were followed by soybean cultivation in the 2018/2019 harvest and an intercropping with corn and Brachiaria in the 2019 off-season harvest. There was a difference in the absolute weed infestation between the evaluated areas. Treatments with corn and cowpea had greater weed infestation. However, areas with pasture or intercropping with corn and Brachiaria showed less infestation, especially in areas with Brachiaria grown in the off-season for more than two years. The weed species composition differs between the areas evaluated. The implantation of a corn-Brachiaria intercropping in the off-season under a crop rotation system, especially in areas with Brachiaria grown in the off-season for more than four years, reduces the weed infestation.
Highlights
The use of vegetation cover is an important tool in the integrated management of weeds, as they can reduce and alter the weed community, besides minimizing or extinguishing the use of chemical control (Martins et al, 2016)
The predecessor crop, such as intercropping and croplivestock integration associated with the no-till system, favors the subsequent crop competing with weeds (Concenço et al, 2012; Gontijo Neto, et al, 2014)
Melo et al (2019) reported that the association between corn and Brachiaria cultivated with reduced spacing promoted a greater reduction in weeds occurrence in the subsequent soybean crop
Summary
The use of vegetation cover is an important tool in the integrated management of weeds, as they can reduce and alter the weed community, besides minimizing or extinguishing the use of chemical control (Martins et al, 2016) This vegetation cover can be introduced in the production system using crops like corn and cowpea, pastures, or intercropping use, such as corn-Brachiaria (Silva et al, 2018; Seidel et al, 2015; Melo et al, 2019). The predecessor crop, such as intercropping and croplivestock integration associated with the no-till system, favors the subsequent crop competing with weeds (Concenço et al, 2012; Gontijo Neto, et al, 2014). Identifying weed species is paramount in preventing possible losses caused by competition between invasive species and the economic interest crop (Nordi and Landgraf, 2009)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
