The objective of this work was to evaluate the competitive interaction between Brachiaria brizantha and B. plantaginea under reduced rates of fluazifop-p-butyl and different application timings. The experimental design was a randomized complete block, with four replications, arranged in a 6 x 3 factorial, consisting of six doses of fluazifop-p-butyl (7,5; 12,5; 18,75; 31,25; 43,75 and 62,5 g ha-1), applied in three times (14, 24 and 34 days after plant emergence - DAE) and a control without herbicide. The highest dose applied corresponded to 33% of the recommended dose for soybean (187,5 g ha-1). The evaluation of the treatments was accomplished 53 DAE. The plants were grouped into leaves and stems, and their dry biomass obtained. Leaf area, stem number and stem length of both species were determined. B. plantaginea was more susceptible to fluazifop-p-butyl than B. brizantha. It was observed that 25 g ha-1 of fluazifop-p-butyl, applied at 14 DAE allowed maximum B. brizantha dry biomass accumulation and satisfactory control of B. plantaginea. In this application timing the dose of 62.5 g ha-1 controlled both species. Regarding application timing, when treated with reduced doses not intended to achieve full species control, young plants of B. brizantha and B. Plantaginea presented better recovery ability.
Brachiaria; grasses; competition; fluazifop-p-butyl
