The present research was carried out at the Núcleo de Agronomia da Alta Paulista, in Adamantina, State of Sao Paulo, Brazil, to study the effects of different periods of weed competition with peanut.The treatments were all possible combinations among the presence/absence of weeds (at the sowing time) and the following periods of weed removal: 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100 days, after sowing. Each experimental plot was set up with four peanut lines (6.0 m² of useful area). The main weed species occurring in the experimental area were: Cyperus lanceolatus Poir, Brachiaria decumbens Stapf., Commelina benghalensis L., Amaranthus viridis L., Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn., Portulaca oleracea L., Digitaria horizontalis Willd and Solanum americanum Mill. The main effects of weed presence in the peanut crop was to decrease pod kernel yields and peanut population at harvest. No significant effects were observed on shelling percentages and peanut dry matter for any of the studied periods. Weeding control, carried out at 13 and 67 days after sowing, not taking into account initial weed presence was enough for obtaining peanut pod yield statistically similar to that observed when the peanut crop was maintained with no competition during all cycle. Pods and kernel yields and peanut population at harvest increased with weeding control at the sowing stage.
Arachis hypogaea L; interference; weeds; wet season peanut; yield
