Weed Interference on ‘Prata-Anã’ Banana Production

ABSTRACT: In the state of Minas Gerais, the northern region is one of the main banana production cores. Weed interference can reduce crop growth and, consequently, lead to reduced yield and fruit quality. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the interference of weeds in the production of the first and second cycles of ‘Prata-Anã’ bananas. The experimental design was randomized blocks, with ten treatments and three replicates, evaluated in two crop cycles. The treatments were ten periods of weed control, from planting: without control; control throughout the whole experimental period; control only in the first month after planting; control until the second; third; fourth; fifth; sixth; eighth and tenth months after planting. The agronomic and productive characteristics of the ‘Prata-Anã’ bananas were evaluated aton harvest. The maintenance of ‘Prata-Anã’ bananas without weed coexistence for up to 30 days after planting was enough to obtain fruits with satisfactory quality and productivity, both in the first and in the second production cycle, without altering the vegetative and reproductive cycles.