The tolerance of the corn crop to the herbicide nicosulfuron depends on the crop growth stage. An experiment was conducted in Eldorado do Sul, RS, Brazil, to evaluate the selectivity of nicosulfuron applied at different rates on corn and at different growth stages, and also to estimate the economic impact of the crop injury caused by the herbicide. The corn hibryd AG 501 was sowed on a no-till system where the weed control was performed with preemergence herbicides. Treatments tested were combinations of the nicosulfuron rates (0, 60 and 80g ha-1) with corn growth stage (V3, V6 e V9). Nicosulfuron selectivity decreases after the corn crop reaches the six leaf stage, and with herbicide rates superior to 60g ha-1. The rate of economic injury, that is, the herbicide rate in which the benefit of the weed control is equivalent to the yield loss due to weed competition, reduces with the reduction of the impact of the weed on the crop, and with increased corn price.
corn; nicosulfuron; selectivity
