Selectivity evaluation of chlorimuron-ethyl and nicosulfuron herbicides sprayed in post emergence in alfafa crop

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted simultaneously with the objective of evaluating the selectivity of nicosulfuron and chlorimuron-ethyl herbicides, applied in post-emergence at two developmental stages in alfalfa crop. Trials were conducted in greenhouse conditions in randomized entirely design, with five replications, in a 4 x 2 factorial scheme. The factors corresponded to the application of chlorimuron-ethyl herbicide at 0, 7.5, 15 and 30 g ha-1 (Trial 1) and nicosulfuron at doses of 0, 20, 40 and 80 g ha-1 (Trial 2). Herbicides were sprayed in plants with four and seven fully expanded leaves, corresponding to stages 1 and 2, respectively. Phytotoxicity evaluations were assessed at 7 and 21 days after treatment application (DAA) and of plant height and dry biomass accumulation at 44 DAA. Nicosulfuron herbicide was not selective to alfalfa crop, independent of the vegetative stage in which the application was conducted. By contrast, chlorimuron-ethyl herbicide at 8 g ha-1 was selective to alfalfa crop.