Weed diversity in corn with different plant arrangement patterns grown alone and intercropped with palisade grass

Abstract

Composition and level of weed infestation interfere with crop yield and increase production costs. This study aimed to identify weed composition and infestation in corn grown with different plant populations, single, and intercropped with palisade grass. The phytosociological method was used to evaluate density, frequency, dominance, and infestation level of weeds in single and intercropped corn, a with conventional (0.90 m) and reduced (0.45 m) spacing, and low and high plant population in Dourados, MS, Brazil. Commelina benghalensis, Echinochloa spp., and Euphorbia heterophylla were the species most found in the treatments. Single corn with higher plant population decreased weed occurrence. Treatments with palisade grass under a reduced spacing showed lower absolute weed infestation (about 75%) when compared to single corn. Weed infestation was lower in the intercropping of corn with palisade grass, with more pronounced effect under a reduced spacing.