Sticky Nightshade Infestation and Dispersion on an Integrated Soybean-Eucalyptus System at Subtropical Brazil

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Trees in integrated crop-livestock systems can reduce infestation and dispersion of weeds because of a negative interference promoted by competition for light, water and nutrients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the infestation and dispersion of sticky nightshade (Solanum sisymbriifolium) in soybean in different positions between eucalyptus (Eucalyptus dunnii) double rows [20 m x (4 m x 3 m)] in an integrated crop-livestock system at Subtropical Brazil. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design, with nine replications, and five equidistant positions between double rows (n=45) as treatments. Sticky nightshade was evaluated for infestation through biomass, plant density (reproductive and vegetative plants), and for dispersion by the flower, fruit, seeds per fruit, and 100 seed weight. Soybean was analyzed for grain yield. Eucalyptus promoted a negative interference in sticky nightshade infestation and dispersion as well as in soybean yield, to a greater extent closer to the tree component.

Keywords

• integrated crop-livestock systems
• weed
• alley cropping
• ecophysiology
• agroforestry