Photosystem II inhibitors herbicides in pre-emergence control for crabgrass species

Abstract

Many species of the genus Digitaria are known as crabgrass and occurs in the main agricultural crops, especially in sugarcane production, which uses mostly photosystem II inhibitor herbicides for weed management. Due to the complexity of the cultivation system and the problems attributed to the substitution of susceptible species weeds by tolerant species of crabgrass populations, the objective of this work was to verify the control of crabgrass species using photosystem II inhibitor herbicides (PSII) in pre-emergence. The experiment was conducted in greenhouse in a completely randomized in factorial scheme 3x7, with four replications, with the first factor composed of three crabgrass species (D. ciliaris, D. horizontalis and D. nuda) and the second factor composed of following herbicides (ametryn; hexazinone; amicarbazone; diuron + hexazinone; diuron and tebuthiuron), further of the treatment without application. . The efficacy of the treatments was verified through of control by visual evaluation at 15 and 30 days after application (DAA), PSII electron transport rate analysis and total dry biomass of aerial part of the plants. For D. nuda it was observed low control with the herbicides diuron and tebuthiuron. The herbicides ametryn, hexazinone, amicarbazone and diuron + hexazinone mixture were effective in the control with levels higher than 95%, being good alternatives in the crabgrass control.