CHEMICAL CONTROL IN POST-EMERGENCE OF SPECIES OF BRACHIARIA IN THREE VEGETATIVE STAGES

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to correlate the chemical control efficacy in post-emergence of Brachiaria decumbens Stapf. (signal grass) and Brachiaria plantaginea Hitchc. (alexandergrass) through ACCase-inhibitor enzyme herbicide application in function of the stage of development of the plant in order to contribute to the chemical management of these weed species. B. decumbens and B. plantaginea were sown in plastic pots filled with soil and kept in a greenhouse. For chemical control evaluation, the following herbicides were tested (g ha-1): fluazifop-p-butyl at 150, haloxyfop-methyl at 50, and sethoxydim at 230. The herbicides were applied in all three plant development phases: stage 1 (plants presenting 4-6 leaves at 15 days after emergence), stage 2 (plants presenting 3-4 tillers at 23 days after emergence), and stage 3 (adult plants in the beginning of flowering at 48 days after emergence). Evaluations were done at 4, 7, 10, 14, 17, 21, 24, and 28 days after herbicide application. The developmental stage of the two Brachiaria species was instrumental in the efficiency of the control provided by different herbicides. Sethoxydim was the most efficient herbicide in controlling Brachiaria species in the three evaluated development stages.