Corn is among the most cultivated and used cereals worldwide. The objective of this study was to survey the weed community in corn cultivated in monoculture and intercropped with different Fabaceae in different management systems, during the spring/summer seasons in 2011/2012. The following treatments were evaluated: corn alone with NPK at sowing and weeding; corn alone without NPK at sowing and weeding; corn alone with NPK at sowing without weeding; corn with Mucuna aterrima; corn with Crotalaria juncea; corn with Canavalia ensiformis. Weeding increased the Importance Value Index (IVI) of Sorghum arundinaceum in monoculture, whereas fertilization promoted efficient control of Alternanthera tenella colla. The intercrop with velvet bean favored the increase of Rottboelia exaltata IVI, while the intercrop with Crotalaria juncea favored Sorghum arundinaceum. Corn plants in monoculture had the highest height (ALM) and dry weight (PMSM). However, the monoculture had the highest weed height (ALPD) and highest dry matter of narrow leaf weeds (PMSPDE). Weeding in monoculture increased ALM and PMSM, despite also increasing ALPD and PMSPDE. Monoculture with NPK fertilizer at sowing showed lower ALPD than the treatment without complete fertilization; however, PMSPDE increased with fertilization. The NPK fertilizer at sowing in monoculture increased PMSM. The intercrop of corn with Mucuna aterrima had similar effect on the variables analyzed in comparison with the other intercrop evaluated. The intercrops of corn with Crotalaria juncea and corn with Canavalia ensiformis also had similar effects on the variables analyzed.
Zea mays; Mucuna aterrima; Crotalaria juncea; Canavalia ensiformis; no-tillage
