Agronomic traits in common bean are influenced by infestation and coexistence with volunteer maize

ABSTRACT Maize seeds lost during harvest may emerge and establish themselves during the cultivation of common bean, becoming a problematic weed in succession crops. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the infestation level and interference period of volunteer maize on agronomic traits of common bean. The experiment was carried out in a randomized block design, with four replications, in a 2 x 8 factorial scheme consisting of two maize infestation levels (4 plants m-2 and 12 plants m-2) combined with eight coexistence periods between crop and weed (0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42 and 88 days after the emergence of the common bean). Variables related to the common bean vegetative growth (plant height, stem diameter, number of side branches and shoot dry matter) and to its grain production (number of pods per plant, grain yield and weight of 1,000 grains), as well as the period prior to interference, were assessed. The increase of the coexistence period and volunteer maize infestation level negatively affected the common bean growth and grain yield. The densities with 4 plants m-2 and 12 plants m-2 of volunteer maize reduced the common bean grain yield by 60 % and 84 %, respectively; while the periods prior to interference between crop and weed, for the respective infestation levels, were 15 and 8 days after the common bean emergence. In addition, the volunteer maize reduces the period prior to interference to very low values, indicating the need to anticipate the control of this weed.