Revista Brasileira De Herbicidas 2000; 1(1): 61-66
Glyphosate biological efficacy in the control of andropogo grass
DOI: 10.7824/rbh.v1i1.317
Andropogo grass (Andropogon gayanus) is a forage very well adapted to poor pasture soils throughout Cerrados (Brazilian savannas). During the last years, with the expansion of no tillage, specially within the cropping system named “crop/pasture integration”, where glyphosate is the main tool the farmers have to c1ean the fields before planting. Andropogo grass became a problem weed due to its natural resistance to that herbicide. Andropogo leaves are strongly hairy, and this is, probably, the cause of that resistance. The field trial was carried out in Jataí-GO, to evaluate the efficacy of two glyphosate formulations (Roundup CS-liquid and Roundup WG-soluble granules), alone and in tank mixtures with three adjuvants (Silwett L77, Assist and diesel oil) in the postemergence control (bumdown) of andropogo grass. Adjuvants were supposed to improve glyphosate uptake, overcoming the presence of hairs on the leaf surface. Results showed that: 1- there were no differences between the two glyphosate formulations; 2- the addition of adjuvants slightly improved efficacy, but differences were not statistically significant; 3- Andropogo control can be obtained by the use of glyphosate at the rate of, at least, 1800 g AE/ha, with or without adjuvants, when the grass is under an intense vegetative growth, with 30 to 40 em of height.
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