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Effect of reduced rates of glyphosate and paraquat simulating drift on sorghum crop

Herbicide application for crop desiccation or weed control has been growing due to the expansion of the Brazilian agricultural frontier. This fact increases the risks of drift to susceptible crops grown in the vicinity areas; however, several questions are frequently raised about possible losses in grain yield of these crops due to herbicide drift. The objective of this work was to evaluate injuries caused by reduced rates of glyphosate and paraquat simulating drift and its effect on sorghum plant development and grain production. The study was carried out during the crop growing seasons of 1996/97 and 1997/98. The hybrid BR 700 was used in a randomized complete block design, with 12 treatments and four replications. The treatments were performed by the combination of two herbicides with five concentrations of simulated drift: 2, 4, 6, 8 and 12% of the recommended rates (1,440 g ha-1 of glyphosate and 400 g ha-1 of paraquat), and two check treatments without herbicide application for compressions. Leaf area and dry matter weight were not affected by drift, whereas plant height was reduced, especially by the highest herbicide reduced rate. The chlorophyll content was slightly affected in the growing season 1997/98, whereas the visual symptoms, in both growing seasons, resulted in higher percentage of injuries while concentration drift increased. The leaf damages observed were greater at the growing season 1996/97. Also in this growing season, the final stand was reduced by the highest glyphosate rate. As far as grain production is concerned, only the growing season 1996/97 presented yield reduction due to drift, when the highest rate of glyphosate resulted in the lowest grain weight. In the 1997/98 trial, there was no drift effect on the productivity characteristics probably due to climate factors. The sorghum plant is susceptible to the action of non-selective herbicides; reduced rates of glyphosate as well as paraquat, at 12% or lower of the recommended dosage may influence sorghum plant development and grain production, especially when the weather conditions are favorable to the action of these herbicides.

phytotoxicity; herbicides; desiccation; Sorghum bicolor


Sociedade Brasileira da Ciência das Plantas Daninhas Departamento de Fitotecnia - DFT, Universidade Federal de Viçosa - UFV, 36570-000 - Viçosa-MG - Brasil, Tel./Fax::(+55 31) 3899-2611 - Viçosa - MG - Brazil
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