The aim of this work was to evaluate possible effects of Brachiaria decumbens (BRADC) mulching resulted from either glyphosate application (1440 g.a.e./ha) or hand weeded on E. grandis initial growth. The plots were 50 l containers infested or not by BRADC. The experimental treatments consisted of no control of BRADC up to 230 days after Eucalyptus transplanting (DAT); BRADC control (using glyphosate or hand weeded at 106 DAT); simulation of treatment BRADC control not infested by BRADC, and BRADC mulch, resulted from glyphosate application or hand weeded, transfered from an area infested by BRADC. At the end of the experiment (230 DAT) it was observed a significant reduction on eucalyptus plant high, stem diameter, leaf and branch number, and leaf area, in the treatment where BRADC was not controlled, when compared to the plants growing in containers not infested by BRADC that received BRADC mulch obtained from glyphosate or manual hoeing. Chemicalcontrol and manual hoeing did not affect initial growth of eucalyptus, independent on competition or simulation conditions. Based on the results we conclued that BRADC mulch resulted from chemical control by glyphosate do not affect eucalyptus initial growth.
Allelopathy; chemical control; mulch; Brachiaria decumbens; Eucalyptus grandis