The effects Brachiaria brizantha interference on stomatal conductance (gs) of Eucalyptus citriodora and E. grandis seedlings, were evaluated. The experiments were performed in soil, with three water levels, in greenhouse conditions, between December 1995 and February 1996. The treatments were distributed in factorial arrangement (2 x 3 x 4): two species of eucalyptus (E. citriodora and E. grandis), three levels of water (20, 23 and 26%), and four populations of B. brizantha (0, 1, 2 and 3 plants per vase). Four replicates per treatment were considered. Water level at the pots was maintained constant until the last experiment evaluation, at 70 days following seedlings transplanting. Moisture control was performed by microtensiometer and daily weighting with three repositions of evapotranspired water. A mensuration was done with an infrared gas analyzer (IRGA). The presence of B. brizantha cultivated in the same pot with E. citriodora and E. grandis promoted eucalyptus stomatal conductance (gs) reduction, regardless of water level in the soil. E. citriodora and E. grandis seedlings upper third leaves, cultivated in the same pot, with and without B. brizantha, presented higher stomatal conductance than median and lower thirds, regardless of water levels in the soil and of the B. brizantha population. The highest values of the stomatal conductance were exhibited for eucalyptus plant upper third leaves, when water level in the soil was at 26% (near field capacity).
eucalyptus; Brachiaria brizantha; water in the soil
