The objective of this work was to identify the minimum MSMA dose needed and the best way to apply it to chemically eradicate coconut palm trees affected by stem-bleeding. The experiment was carried out in Neopolis, Sergipe from July to August 2007. The coconut tree variety green-dwarf had been planted 11 years ago in the area The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design with five replicates and the treatments were arranged in a 3 x 2 + 1 factorial scheme, with three herbicide doses (14.4, 21.6 and 28.8 g per plant), two modes of herbicide application (entire dose injection in the stem in a 25 cm deep x 5 cm diameter hole, located at 1 m height; or injection of the product splitting the dose between two 25 cm deep x 5 cm diameter holes, one at 0.5 m height and the other at 1.0 m height) plus an additional control treatment with no herbicide application. Undiluted herbicide was applied with a graduated syringe immediately after the drilling of the holes. After herbicide injection, the holes were filled with moist clay. Four coconut eradication evaluations were carried out at 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after application (DAA) of the MSMA treatments. The application of 21.6 g MSMA per plant, in a single hole, was efficient in eradicating the coconut palm trees, promoting a control above 95% and precluding any possibility of plant recovery.
Cocos nucifera; Ceratocystis paradoxa; organic arsenic
