This experiment was planned to evaluate the effect of herbicides on yield and physiological quality of field bean seeds. A trial was carried out on a Cambic yellow Podzolic, terrace fase clay soil, with 2,8% of organic matter. The following treatments were applied: a) mechanically weeded; b) non-weeded; c) EPTC at 5.70 kg a.i./ha; d) trifluralin at 0.75 a.i./ha; e) EPTC 2,00 kg a.i./ha + trifluralin at 0.60 kg a.i./ha; f) nitralin at 1.00 kg a.i./ha e pendimethalin at 1.50 kg a.i./ha. Seed physiological quality was determined by the fo llowing te sts: acce lerated aging, first count germination, standard germination and weight of seed dry matter. The prevalent weeds in the field were Oxalis sp, Galinsoga parviflora and Cyperus rotundus. The standard germination test was not a good method to assess seed vigor. Trifluralin was not detrimental to the accumulation of dry matter in seedlings. The accelerated aging test was effective to differentiate treatments, showing that seeds from non-weeded plots had less vigor than seeds from plots treated with EPTC + trifluralin.
Phaseolus vulgaris L.; herbicides; seeds; physiological quality