Soil management systems can affect chloroacetamide herbicide bioactivity and its soil persistence, crop selectivity and weed control. An experiment was carried out at the University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, during the growing season 2000/2001, to evaluate the weed control efficacy of the chloroacetamide herbicides, in a Paleudult soil, under conventional tillage and no-tillage systems. The following treatments were tested: acetochlor and alachlor, each at the rate of 3.360 g ha-1, metolachlor at 2.400 g ha-1, s-metolachlor at 1.440 g ha-1, and s-metolachlor + protector at 1.440 and 1.800 g ha-1, respectively, besides a check plot without herbicide, applied under conventional and no-tillage systems. Assessments included weed population, weed dry matter and weed control at 30 and 50 days after herbicide application. The chloroacetamides herbicides were more effective in controlling weeds under conventional tillage, compared to no tillage, in both evaluation times. The herbicides acetochlor, alachlor at 3,600 g ha-1 and metolachlor + protector at 2,400 g ha-1 were more efficient in controlling these plants when compared to the other herbicides and formulations. Dry biomass production and weed populations were lower under conventional tillage.
persistence; herbicides; soil management; metolachlor; acetochlor; alachlor
