Screening pre-emergence herbicides for weed control during early elephant grass growth

Abstract

Two experiments were carried out in the municipality of Coronel Pacheco, Minas Gerais State, Brazil in 2020 and 2021 to identify additional herbicide options for weed control during early elephant grass pasture establishment. Thirteen pre-emergence herbicides were compared to weed-free and weedy controls in a randomized complete block design with 4 replications. Forage yield losses were significant as a result of weed interference throughout the entire crop cycle. The most phytotoxic treatments were trifluralin and diuron + hexazinone. Weed control was effective for all treatments, except for trifluralin applied alone. Elephant grass dry matter yield was not influenced by diuron, ametryne, flumioxazin and metribuzin, identifying them as potential pre-emergence herbicides for weed control in elephant grass pastures.