This study was carried out under field conditions during the period from January to July 1995 at EPAMIG Experimental Farm, in Ponte Nova/MG, aiming to evaluate the effects liquid swine manure doses on the yield of sweet potato cv Paulista, weed incidence and the weed control efficiency by metribuzin. A randomized block design in the factorial scheme with four replication was used. The effects of 0, 20, 40 and 60 m3 ha-1 doses of swine manure combined with metribuzin 0, 300, 600 and 900 g ha-1 and four weeded controls fertilized with 0, 20, 40 and 60 m3 ha-1 of swine manure were evaluated. A linear increment in fresh biomass was observed on large leaves weeds, narrow leaves and total weeds as a function of the increase in swine manure doses. Metribuzin was selective for the sweet potato crop, and no apparent sign of toxicity to this culture was observed. The maximum commercial root yield was obtained using 810.17 g ha-1 of ametribuzin dose (22.94 t ha-1, approximately 89% above the weight obtained by the control without cultivation tracts). This productivity was similar to that observed in the treatments which received three cultivations. The weeds interfered negatively with the main characteristics evaluated in the sweet potato yield. The sweet potato crop answered positively to the fertilization with liquid swine manure presenting a linear increase in root production of the extra A, commercial and total classes. Also it was verified the occurrence of a negative correlation between weeds and the main yield characteristics in the sweet potato cropping.
Manure; herbicide; control; root yield