Phytosociology of weeds in coffee plants with different soil management techniques

Abstract

The adoption of different soil management techniques in coffee plants can alter the phytosociology of the weed community and, therefore, identifying the technique that most contributes to an integrated weed management is fundamental. In this context, the objective of this study was to evaluate the phytosociology of weeds in coffee plants under different soil management techniques. The land was planted in January 2016 with coffee seedlings of the species Coffea arabica L., cultivar Mundo Novo IAC 379-19. The design used was in randomized blocks, arranged in a 2 x 6 factorial scheme, with 3 replications. Two evaluations were carried out: in the rainy season and in the dry season, in 2017. The management techniques applied inter-rows were: i) control (spontaneous vegetation in the area); ii) management with Urochloa decumbens. On the coffee in-rows, the treatments were: iii) coffee husk; iv) organic compound; v) plant residues of U. decumbens; vi) plant residues of U. decumbens with coffee husk; vii) plant residues of U. decumbens with organic compound; viii) control (without coverage). For the evaluations, a square (0.25 m²) was randomly launched and the phytosociological indices were subsequently calculated. The species of the families Poaceae and Asteraceae were the most frequent in the area. The management with U. decumbens inter-rows and the crop residues deposited in the row associated with the coffee husk, or organic compound, decreases the amount and the diversity of weed species.