Population dynamics of weeds in maize culture in relation to fertilization and management

Abstract

The aim of this work was to evaluate the weed establishing (and unwanted plant) populations during six consecutive agricultural years for maize crops. The systems studied were till, both organic and traditional, intermediated by a traditional plantation system. The experiments were carry out in the agricultural years 2003/04 until 2008/09, in the experimental area in southeast of the Minas Gerais State), which is owned by the Federal University of Viçosa. The treatments were SDT1 (till without fertilizer and herbicide application ); SDT2 (till with mineral fertilizer (300 kg ha-1 with of 8-28-16 (N-P-K) plus 100 kg ha-1 of nitrogen for side fertilization, and the herbicide application): SDT3 (till with fertilizer with organic compost in a dose of 40 m³ ha-1 and herbicide application ); SDO (organic till with organic compost in a dose of 40 m³ ha-1, and mowing). We can conclude that the herbicide application or the clearing of the ground stimulated a greater alteration in the establishing of weed (unwanted plant) communities than the type of fertilizer used.