This work was carried out to evaluate the effect of integrating morphophysiological characteristics of hybrids, row spacing reduction and chemical weed management in corn. The experiment was carried out under field conditions, in a randomized complete block design, in a 2 x 2 x 5 factorial scheme, with four replications, with the first factor consisting of corn hybrids (Sprint, too early-maturing and more erect leaves and Penta, early-maturing and more plane leaves),and the second consisting of row spacing (0.45 and 0.90 m) and the third, of the weed control treatments: 1.atrazine + simazine (1.500 + 1.500 g.a.i. ha-1 ) at early post-emergence; 2.atrazine + simazine (1.500 + 1.500 g a.i. ha-1), in early post-emergence, complemented by nicosulfuron+atrazine (20 + 750 g a.i. ha-1 ), at late post-emergence; 3.atrazine+simazine (750 + 750 g a.i. ha-1 ), at early post-emergence; 4.control with weeding; 5. only nicosulfuron+ atrazine (20 + 750 g a.i. ha-1 ), in late post-emergence. The 45 cm spacing favored weeds in the row while in the 90 cm spacing, the greatest weed infestations occurred in the interrows. Complementary applications of atrazine + nicosulfuron were needed to control weeds in the Spring hybrid and conventional row systems, but not to control Penta at the row width used. For the Penta hybrid, reduced spacing decreased corn grain yield, while for the Sprint hybrid, no corn grain yield reduction was observed.
plant arrangement; cultural weed control; integrated weed management
