Phytosociology of weeds on Cerrado Mineiro coffee growing farms

Abstract

Background: Phytosociological surveys of weeds in agricultural regions, such as the coffee growing Cerrado Mineiro Denomination, are essential for understanding the predominant species in a cultivation area. Objective: This study aimed to determine the predominant weed species in coffee crops in Cerrado Mineiro through phytosociological surveys during two periods of the year. Methods: 26 coffee farms in 12 municipalities within the Cerrado Mineiro Denomination of Origin of were visited. The inventory square method was used for the phytosociological surveys. In each area, 40 m2 was evaluated and divided into two study periods (summer and winter). Calculations of the variables were performed using the following data: frequency, density, abundance, importance value index, similarity coefficient, rarefaction curve, Shannon index, and hierarchical grouping analysis using Jaccard’s similarity. Results: In the summer (rainy period), 54 species from 16 families were found, with Poaceae, Asteraceae, and Amaranthaceae predominating. In winter (dry season), 56 species from 16 families were found, predominantly Asteraceae, Poaceae, and Brassicaceae. There was a predominance of 17 and 16 species, with similarity levels (Jaccard) of 45.58% and 40.78% for summer and winter, respectively. Conclusions: The weed community in the Cerrado Mineiro coffee plantation is dominated by two main families, Poacaeae and Asteraceae, with Eleusine indica (summer) and Conyza spp. (winter) being the species with the highest importance values.