Crop-livestock integration has been an advantageous option, benefitting both grain and animal production. However, an adequate forage management to prevent its negative interference in the crop is an essential requirement for the success of the intercropping system. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of fluazifop-p-butyl on the establishment of soybean and Brachiaria brizantha intercropping. The experiment was carried out in Coimbra-MG, to evaluate 6 rates of fluazifop-p-butyl (0, 18, 36, 54, 72 and 90 g ha-1) applied at two timings (21 and 28 days after soybean emergence - DAE). Additionally, two control treatments were included (soybean and Brachiaria in monocrop kept clean by hand hoeing). The timing of application did not affect the efficacy of the herbicide doses. It was verified that doses of fluazifop-p-butyl reduced Brachiaria biomass, except the dose of 18 g ha-1 at 21 DAE and the treatment without herbicide. Higher final plant height and height of first pod insertion of soybean plants were observed in the treatment without herbicide and at the dose of 18 g ha-1 of fluazifop-p-butyl. Final stand, number of seeds per pod and 100 seed weight were not affected by the treatments. To obtain soybean grain yield similar to the control it was necessary to apply 54 g ha-1 of fluazifop-p-butyl at 21 DAE or 36 g ha-1 at 28 DAE. The component that contributed to reduce soybean grain yield was pod number per plant.
Glycine max; management; crop-livestock integration
