André Andres

MANAGEMENT OF RED RICE (ORYZA SATIVA )A ND BARNYARDGRASS (ECHINOCHLOA CRUS-GALLI )G ROWN WITH SORGHUM WITH REDUCED RATE OF ATRAZINE AND MECHANICAL METHODS

SUMMARY The weedy variety of Oryza sativa occurs in several rice cultivation areas reducing both grain yield and quality. Prevention and crop rotation are considered the basic means to reduce its presence. Weed control in sorghum is generally attained with atrazine. In this study, the efficacy of both chemical and mechanical methods for control, under different soil tillage conditions, of weedy rice and barnyardgrass during sorghum cultivation was evaluated with the aim to reduce the application rate of atrazine. In the case of chemical control, the atrazine rate (1000, 1500, 2000, 2500 and 3000 ga.i. ha –1 ) and application timing (pre- and post-emergence) were assessed. With the mechanical control method, the number of interventions (interrow hoeing with sorghum at 3, 4–5 and 6–8 leaves) to avoid weed competition was determined. The effect of the tillage system on weed population was investigated comparing conventional (ploughing), minimumtillage (disc harrowing) and sod seeding (no-tillage) in combination with pre- and post-emergence herbicide treatments. The results showed that efficient control of weedy rice and barnyardgrass was achieved in lowlands with sorghum in rotation with rice. Both chemical and mechanical methods of weed control in sorghum gave a level of efficiency higher than 60%. The application of atrazine was more efficient in pre-emergence application, rather than in post-emergence treatments, in all soil tillage systems tested. On both weed species, the most suitable application rate was the pre-emergence treatment with 1500 ga.i. ha –1 , and the adoption of higher rates did not significantly increase the herbicidal efficacy. The adoption of two or three mechanical interventions resulted in sorghum yield higher than the chemical post-emergence application, and similar to the application of atrazine in pre-emergence. Higher yield results were in accordance to greater weed control, being obtained in the conventional tillage system.

Interference and economic weed threshold (Ewt) of barnyardgrass on rice as a function of crop plant arrangement

High yield losses in irrigated rice occur due to weed interference, as weeds are also adapted to the flooded environment where the crop is cultivated. The objective of this study was to evaluate the degree of interference and determine the economic weed threshold of populations of barnyardgrass in irrigated rice, according to crop arrangement. Thus, an experiment was carried out under field conditions with rice crop, under the conventional system. The treatments consisted of three arrangements of rice plants, one cultivar BRS Pelota (17 and 32 cm, hand sown) and nine populations of the competitor barnyardgrass present in each sowing method. The rectangular hyperbolic nonlinear regression model appropriately estimates rice productivity losses in the presence of barnyardgrass plants. Manually sown rice crop shows greater competitive ability against barnyardgrass in relation to the 17 and 32 cm spacings. The variable leaf area fits better to the hyperbolic model,compared to the variables plant population, shoot dry weight and soil covering. Sowing the crop by hand increases the economic weed threshold, justifying the adoption of measures to control barnyardgrass at higher population levels. Increased grain yield, rice price, herbicide efficiency and control cost reduction decrease the economic weed threshold values, justifying the adoption of control measures in low populations of barnyardgrass.

Periods of weed interference in sorghum grown under lowland conditions

The objective of this work was to evaluate the efficiency of the mechanical method of weed control in sorghum crop, and to determine the critical period of competition between weeds and the culture under lowland fields in temperate climate areas, considering the development stage of the sorghum plants. The trial was installed under field conditions, in lowland where flooded rice had grown in the previous five years, with high infestation levels of barnyardgrass (Echinochloa sp.) and alexandergrass (Brachiaria plantaginea). The treatments were intercropping periods or absence of weeds in the experimental unitis. These periods were from emergence until the crop stage of 3, 5, 7 or 9 completely expanded leaves. Besides the treatments that involved the presence or absence of weeds, there were one control always free of infestation and one with no weed control. It was concluded that weed control in the sorghum crop, grown in lowland fields of temperate climate areas, should be conducted between the emission of the third and the seventh leaves of the crop, with the adoption of mechanical control being viable for this objective, with no damage for the sorghum grain yield.

Método rápido para detecção de resistência de capim-arroz (Echinochloa spp.) ao quinclorac

Given that resistance of Echinochloa sp. to quinclorac is widely distributed in rice fields in the states of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina, and that the standard tests are relatively slow in showing resistance, a quick test must be developed to identify seeds from Echinochloa plants resistant to quinclorac. The trials were conducted under greenhouse and germination chamber conditions. In the germination chamber trial, seeds of four Echinochloa biotypes, characterized as resistant or susceptible to quinclorac, were sown at concentrations of 0, 3.75, 18.75, 37.5, 187.5, 375 and 1875 mg L-1 of quinclorac, and the trial was conducted at 25oC for 14 days. Under greenhouse conditions, the same biotypes were sown and treated with rates of 0, 5.5, 187.5, 375, 750, 1500 and 3000 g ha 1 of quinclorac. Under greenhouse conditions, dry mass and plant height were evaluated 25 days after emergence, and under germination chamber conditions, dry mass and plant height were evaluated 14 days after sowing (DAS), with survival being evaluated 7 DAS. The quick test required less time, labor and material, being as efficient as the greenhouse trial. In addition, it could differentiate both resistant biotypes in function of the resistance level. It is suggested that the concentration of 375 mg L-1 of quinclorac be used as the standard for the quick test, since it showed an adequate safety margin in separating seeds from the resistant and susceptible biotypes.

Weed Resistance to Herbicides in Rice Fields in Southern Brazil

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the main staple food for a great part of the world population, and together with corn and wheat represents most of the cereals produced and grown worldwide [1]. With the growth of the world population, especially in East Asian countries, there are concerns about if rice production will be sufficient to meet the demand in the future [1]. There is the need to increase crop productivity levels, but there are both limitations for the opening of new agricultural areas, and issues regarding environmental pollution and use of natural resources.

Banco de sementes de arroz vermelho em sistemas de semeadura de arroz irrigado

An experiment was conducted aiming to estimate the variability of viable seeds of red rice (Oryza sativa L.) in soil under three rice (O. sativa L.) seeding systems: conventional, no-tillage and water seeded. It was located in Sao Borja, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, in an albaqualf soil with an average of 150 red rice plants per square meter before establishing the experiment. In order to estimate the seed bank, soil samples were colected using a cylinder with 10cm diameter. Twelve samples were obtained in each plot at two soil depths (0-1cm and 1-10cm) and the seeds were submited to the tetrazolium test to assess its viability. The experiment was a bifatorial in a randomized block design with three replications, in which seeding systems were the main effect and sampling depth the secondary factor. The results indicated a greater number of viable red rice seeds under conventional system (1,994 seeds m2), intermediate values for the no-tillage system (597 seeds m2), and lower numbers under the water-seeded system (93 seeds m2). Therefore, it was demonstrated that rice seeded in water-seeded system favors control of red rice, mantaining the quantity of red rice seeds in lower densities than under the conventinal or no-tillage systems.

PHYTOSOCIOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF WEEDS AS A FUNCTION OF RESIDUAL HERBICIDES APPLIED TO RICE GROWN UNDER SPRINKLER IRRIGATION

We aimed to characterize the weed community in sprinkler irrigated rice, previously applied with residual herbicides for two years, as well as to infer about sustainability of the management applied to the fields based on an ecological approach. The experiment was conducted during the cropping seasons 2013/14 and 2014/15, under sprinkler irrigation. Rice was planted in the second-half of October, using the cultivar PUITA INTA CL. Herbicides were applied in preand post-emergence (sequential application) of crop and weeds. Ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) was planted in winter. In May 2015, soil samples were collected for the soil seed bank study. Phytosociological characterization of weeds emerged from the seed bank was conducted from May 2015 to January 2016, until soil seed bank depletion. Echinochloa crusgalli, Fimbristyllis sp., Cyperus esculentus and Killinga brevifolia were the weeds to which most concern should be directed when growing rice under sprinkler irrigation in lowland areas of Southern Brazil. Their competition strategies are based on density. Herbicides used should be efficient in controlling at least these four weed species. A selecting action of herbicides on weed species was botanically characterized, as the weed species reported after two cropping seasons depended on the herbicide treatment applied.

Weed Interference in the Morphophysiological and Nutritional Characteristics of Erva-Mate ( Ilex paraguariensis )

The erva-mate (Ilex paraguariensis) represents an alternative crop for agricultural exploitation in South Brazilian farms with potential to export the harvested product. However, there is scarce information about the interference caused by weeds on this crop. The objective of this work was to evaluate the interference of weed species on the morphophysiological and nutritional characteristics of erva-mate. The experiment was installed in greenhouse at the Federal University of Fronteira Sul (UFFS), Campus Erechim/RS, Brazil, in randomized blocks design, arranged in a 4 × 6 factorial scheme, with four replications. In factor A, weed species (Urochloa plantaginea—Alexandergrass, Bidens pilosa—Hairy beggarticks, Ipomoea indivisa—Morning glory and Conyza bonariensis—Hairy fleabane) were allocated, and in B the populations of these species competing with the erva-mate (0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 plants per pot) were considered. The variables evaluated in erva-mate were sub-stomatal CO2 concentration, photosynthetic rate, CO2 consumed, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, water use efficiency, height, stem diameter, leaf area and shoot dry mass. Concentrations of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) were also evaluated. Overall, all weed species and densities among the tested ones harmed the development of erva-mate plants, which was considered as low competitive with weeds.

Weed Management in Sprinkler-Irrigated Rice: Experiences from Southern Brazil.

Sprinkler rice saves water compared to paddy rice. However, in paddy fields, the water table is efficient for weed suppression. In sprinkler rice, there is no water table on soil; thus, weed management used in paddy rice may not be suitable for sprinkler rice, since herbicides and water table are expected to interact. Weed pressure in sprinkler rice is higher than in paddy rice; annual grasses are the main weeds in both paddy and sprinkler rice. Barnyardgrass, goosegrass, crabgrass and Alexandergrass show vigorous growth in sprinkler rice. A 3-year study shows that weeds in sprinkler rice reduce grain yield between 11 and 95%. Herbicides used in conventional and Clearfield® rice (clomazone, imazethapyr + imazapic, imazapyr + imazapic, pendimethalin and penoxsulam) were tested, contrasting paddy and sprinkler rice. Additionally, the technique locally called “needle-point” (glyphosate applied over the first-day emerging rice) was combined with preand postemergence herbicides. When using only preor postemergence, weeds reduced rice grain yield; a combination of products was the best option for sprinkler-irrigated rice. The Clearfield technology was efficient in controlling most weeds. However, using it combined to the needle-point promoted the best results. The main approaches for weed management in sprinkler-irrigated rice were summarized.

Soil and Water Management for Sprinkler Irrigated Rice in Southern Brazil.

Rice is grown in lowland paddies, which is flood irrigated. In the most undulating areas, continuous flooding is difficult and some farmers seek alternative irrigation methods. Grain yield in sprinkler irrigated rice ranges between 80 and 100% of that obtained under flooding, but for this, fertilizer and water should be properly managed. For sprinkler irrigated rice, fertilizer should be corrected by adding 10 kg/ha of P 2 O 5 and 15 kg/ha of K 2 O for every expected additional ton of grains, over the standard recommendation. Regarding nitrogen fertilizer, it is recommended to be applied about 20 kg/ha of N at planting and the rest as topdressing. This can be done via soil, split into two applications: 50–60% of the topdressing dose at tillering start and the rest at panicle initiation. When N is applied by fertigation, 25% of the recommended topdressing N should be applied at tillering start; the remainder of the dose may be partitioned into four to six weekly applications through irrigation water. For water management, soil water tension should be kept below 10 kPa. At the vegetative stage, irrigation can be applied aiming to avoid water tensions in soil above 30 kPa at any moment.