The objectives were to estimate the magnitude of the critical density of alexander grass (Urochloa plantaginea) in common bean, in cases where this weed was managed in early stage of crop and occurred reinfestation, and the changes its suffer as a result of different cultivars and variables of alexander grass infestation. Two field experiments were conducted at Eldorado do Sul, RS/Brazil, one cultivated with the bean cultivar UFT-06 (red group) and the other IPR Graúna (black group). The levels of alexander grass infestation were obtained with four residual herbicides, applied at two rates in crop preemergence, and plots with and without weed control. The density, fresh mass and dry mass of alexander grass were evaluated during the critical weed-bean competition period, and the crop yield was evaluated at harvest. The critical density of alexander grass in common bean was not high in this situation (0.4 to 0.7%); however, there may be benefit in weed control according to the level of infestation and cost control. The critical density was always higher for the cultivar IPR Graúna, in relation to UTF-06. The density, fresh mass and dry mass of alexander grass explained adequately the grain yield loss of common bean crop by the nonlinear hyperbolic regression model.
Phaseolus vulgaris; Urochloa plantaginea; Brachiaria plantaginea; economic threshold; integrated weed management
