The objective of this study was to evaluate the growth and yield of maize and brachiaria mono- and inter- cropping systems with different weed managements. The experiment was conducted in a degraded pasture area in a dystrophic Oxisol. Treatments were arranged in a factorial 4 x 4 + 5, with the first factor corresponding to maize cultivars (UFV M100, DKB 390, DKB 455, and DKB 789) in consortium with Urochloa Brizantha, with different weed managements (weeded; no weed control; atrazine (1.5 kg ha-1) and atrazine + nicosulfuron (1.5 kg ha-1 + 8 g ha-1), in addition to U. brizantha weeded monocultures and four maize cultivars. The experimental design was a randomized block with four replications. At 30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 days after planting (DAP), maize dry matter and brachiaria dry matter were evaluated, with the last evaluation was determining maize grain yield. Higher dry matter accumulation and yields were obtained using maize and brachiaria monocultures. However, the application of atrazine + nicosulfuron in consortium produced maize grain yield similar to that obtained in monoculture. The effects of weed and maize cultivar managements on brachiaria growth were only manifested in the assessments at 90, 120 and 150 DAP. The maize hybrids were found to be more competitive with brachiaria than the variety; the highest grain yield was obtained with the simple hybrid (DKB 390) and the lowest with the triple hybrid (DKB 455). The interference of U. brizantha in maize depends on the management of the weed practices adopted.
Zea mays; Urochloa brizantha; no-tillage system; herbicide
