INTERFERENCE AND ECONOMIC THRESHOLD LEVEL FOR CONTROL OF BEGGARTICK ON BEAN CULTIVARS

ABSTRACT The aim of the study was to assess the interference and determine the economic threshold level of beggartick damage on bean crops. Treatments consisted of bean cultivars (IPR Uirapuru, BRS Supremo, BRS Campeiro, Fepagro 26, BRS Esplendor and IPR Tuiuiú) submitted to competition with ten beggartick populations. We evaluated plant population, leaf area, ground cover and shoot dry mass of beggartick. Dry mass of shoots of beggartick fitted better to the hyperbolic model, and grain yield losses due to beggartick interference were estimated satisfactorily by this model. BRS Esplendor and IPR Tuiuiú were more competitive than the others in the presence of beggartick. Sowing of BRS Esplendor, IPR Tuiuiú and Fepagro 26 increases the level of economic damage, justifying the adoption of control measures only for higher densities of beggartick. Increase in grain yield, commercial price of beans, herbicide efficiency and reduction in control cost decrease the threshold level for weed control, justifying application of control measures for lower densities of beggartick.