The plant residues are the main part of the no-tillage system. Although these soil covers reduce weed population density, they might intercept herbicides when applied on the mulch. Field experiment, bioassays and chromatografic analysis were made using sulfentrazone at the rates: zero, 300, 600, 900 and 1200 g.a.i/ha applied on 6000 and 12000 kg/ha of oat residues and on soil without mulch. Soil and straw samples were collected immediately after sulfentrazone application. Twenty-four hours after sulfentrazone application the field was irrigated and more samples were collected for bioassays and chromatografics analysis. The results showed that the weed-crop competition was reduced under mulch conditions. The weed population was formed by Brachiaria plantaginea only. Sulfentrazone leached more than 10 cm deep in the soil surface after irrigation.
No-till; mulch; sulfentrazone; residue