The objective of this research was to evaluate the selectivity of pre and post-emergence herbicides on corn crop under no-tillage system, kept weed-free throughout the crop cycle. The corn hybrid Pioneer 3027 was sown and the experimental design consisted of randomized blocks with 22 treatments and 3 replications. The following herbicide treatments (in g a.i. ha-1) were applied in the respective phenological stages (number of definitive leaves = NF): atrazine + metolachlor (1,400 + 2,100) under pre-emergence conditions of the crop; (atrazine + metolachlor) + nicosulfuron [(1,000 + 1,500) + 20] with the crop presenting NF = 2; atrazine + vegetal oil (2,400 + 1,800), NF = 2, 4 and 8, atrazine + simazine (1,250 + 1,250), NF = 2, 4 and 8; nicosulfuron (40 - NF = 2, 4 and 8; 20 _ NF = 4 and 8 and 52 _ NF = 4 and 8); (atrazine + vegetal oil) + nicosulfuron [(800 + 600) + 20; (800 + 600) + 40 e (800 + 600) + 52), NF = 4 and 8. Visual evaluations of the phytotoxicity symptoms were performed at 7, 14, and 21 days after each herbicide application, adopting the European Weed Research Council grading, besides parameters related to crop yield components and final yield. The results indicated that the herbicides did not affect the duration of the phenological stage of the crop. When sprayed at the phenological stage 2 (NF = 8), some herbicides reduced crop yield due to the decrease in total number of corn grain rows per ear, total number of grains per row, and mass of 1,000 grains; being thus advisable to apply herbicides in the corn crop from seeding through the phenological stage 1 (NF = 4), in order to avoid phytotoxicity to the corn crop.
no-tillage system; phytotoxicity; nicosulfuron
