This study aimed to evaluate the effects of atrazine + nicosulfuron on soil microbial activity and biomass production of corn and Brachiaria brizantha intercroping. The treatments were constituted of corn and B. brizantha intercropping, treated with atrazine (1,500 g ha-1), or with atrazine + nicosulfuron (0, 4 and 32 g ha-1) and two controls represented by intercropping control with and without weeds. Herbicides were applied 30 days after corn emergence (DAE). The experiment was arranged in a randomized block design, with four replicates. Microbial biomass (MB), respiration and metabolic quotient (qCO2) obtained from soil samples seven days after herbicide application on corn flowerage and pre-harvesting were evaluated. No-treated soil samples were collected in field and treated with atrazine (1,500 g ha-1) + nicosulfuron (0, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 32 g ha-1 ) under laboratory condition. Weed and B. brizantha dry matter and corn grain yield were evaluated at corn pre- harvesting. Methods of control did not influence respiration, MB nor qCO2 but higher MB in flowerage and higher qCO2 were observed after seven days of application. Higher weed dry matter production was observed in the control treated only with atrazine. Forage yield of B. brizantha was superior in the control plots without weeds, while corn grain yield was superior both in the control plots without weeds and treated with nicosulfuron.
atrazine; microbial biomass; intercrop; nicosulfuron; no-tillage; metabolic quotient
