Weed management in glyphosate-resistant maize

Abstract

The application of glyphosate associated with other herbicides is an important alternative for weed control in maize, to increase control spectrum and to minimize problems with resistance and tolerance from some species to the product. The objective of this work was to evaluate the efficacy, selectivity and effects on the grain yield components of glyphosate-resistant maize as a function of its application, associated or not with other pre- and postemergence herbicides. The design used was randomized blocks with four replications. Treatments consisted in the use of glyphosate combined with the herbicides: atrazine, [atrazine + simazine], [atrazine + oil], [atrazine + S-metolachlor], applied pre- and/or postemergence and [nicosulfuron + mesotrione] only postemergence, plus two controls, one weeded and one infested. The evaluated variables were maize phytotoxicity, weed control, ear insertion height, number of rows per ear, number of grains per row, one thousand grain mass and grain yield. Herbicide treatments caused low phytotoxicity to maize, less than 6%; control greater than 88, 95 and 95% for alexandergrass, turnip and sunflower, respectively, and did not affect grain yield components. The tested herbicides are selective to the hybrid Forseed 2A521 PW and effective in weed control. Weed control with weeding or herbicide increased maize Forseed 2A521 PW yield by 43%. The association of glyphosate with pre- or postemergence herbicides increased maize grain yield by approximately 14%.