This work aimed to determine the periods of weed interference in carrot (Daucus carota) cultivated in two spacings (15 x 6 cm and 20 x 6 cm). The experimental design was arranged in a randomized block in a 2 x 14 factorial scheme, with two repetitions. The treatments consisted in the combination of the two spacings and seven initial periods of control or coexistence of the culture with the weeds( 0, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, and 72 days after emergence). The critical periods of weed interference prevention (CPWIP) were from 19 to 36 and 18 to 42 days after crop emergence, respectively, for spacing rows from 15 x 6 cm to 20 x 6 cm. The shortest spacing between the rows resulted in the reduction of the critical period of weed interference prevention in carrot in seven days. Weed interference throughout the crop cycle reduced crop yield up to 96%.
Daucus carota; competition; critical period of weed interference prevention
