Manejo integrado das plantas daninhas na cultura da laranja lima (Citrus aurantifolia)

Abstract

Brazil is the second largest producer of oranges in the world, third after the European Union, where China is in first place. In the Northeast it is an important activity, especially in the states of Bahia, Pernambuco and Sergipe. The state of Alagoas has favorable climatic conditions for growing the fruit, with high temperatures, water availability and suitable soils. The general objective of this work is to analyze the appropriate management of weeds in citrus in the state of Alagoas and its influence on productivity. Obtaining the best weed management method to have significant production of this crop in the State. The methodology used was in the experimental area located at the Campus of Engineering and Agricultural Sciences, at the Federal University of Alagoas CECA – UFAL, in the municipality of Rio Largo, under the geographic coordinates 9o28'29.1” south latitude and 35o49'43.6 ” west longitude and 127 m altitude. The average minimum and maximum temperatures vary between 17.7°C and 34.1°C during the period of this study. The highest average temperature was observed in March with 21.4°C, and the lowest in September with 17.6°C, and 21.59% of the difference between March and September. The experiment was in an area of 1,885m2, the spacing between lines was 4m, the same as the spacing between plants. The plots were 16m2 (4m X 4m). For integrated weed management methods, the experiment was divided into 5 blocks and 9 treatments, in the experimental area. The soil in the experimental area is classified as dystrophic grayish Argisol. The data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance using the F test, and the means compared using the Tukey test at 5% probability. The Sisvar version 5.7 program was used for statistical analysis. The use of mulch presented the highest average in the variable number of fruits, followed by weeding with a hoe and chemical treatment, 116.2; 109.8; 110.6 fruits respectively. The treatments with sunn hemp and peanut presented the lowest average number of fruits, 3.4 and 7.0, respectively. When checking the number of weeds, mulch along with chemical control and cover with jack beans. It proved to be superior to other types of management, weed control was superior to other treatments, with no weed plants present in these treatments. It was also possible to observe that the use of herbicides is one of the most efficient ways of controlling weeds in a crop. There is a 100% reduction in the incidence of species from the first evaluation until the conclusion of the experiment, demonstrating the significant effectiveness of this method. Finally, it was concluded that mulch management was efficient in controlling weeds, also resulting in a greater number of fruits. Weeding with a hoe, chemical control and mulching were effective in controlling weeds. Urochloa decumbens, Crotalaria juncea and forage peanuts satisfactorily control weeds, however, they reduced the number of fruits. Keywords: weed control, Citrus, cultivation, quality.