Weed competition affects corn grain yield and varies depending on the efficiency and timing of weed control. The objective of this research was to determine the effect of using herbicides and hoeing at different times on weed control and corn grain yield. The experiment was conducted under a conventional tillage cropping system in Eldorado do Sul-RS, Brazil, during the growing season of 1997/98. The predominant weed was Brachiaria plantaginea at an average plant density of 285 plants per m². The treatments were herbicides applied alone in sequence and in tank mix at different rates and timing. The herbicides tested were atrazine, atrazine + vegetable oil, metolachlor and nicosulfuron. To each herbicide treatment there was a correspondent hand hoed treatment applied at the same time of spraying. Weed control performed in preemergence or earlier in the crop development gave the highest corn grain yields, even with the BRAPL control reduction at the end of the crop cycle. Herbicides sprayed in sequence provided higher corn grain yields than tank mixtures. Corn grain yields obtained in treatments with sprayed herbicides at different times were equivalent to their hand hoed control.
control; weeds; herbicides; mix
