Among the possibilities of weed management, the chemical method is the most used one. However, a potential problem presented by this method is the accidental drift. Thus, knowledge on the risk and on how to quantify it and its effect on the crop is essential for a correct use of these products in weed management. The objective of this work was to study the effect of simulated herbicide drift through underdosing in the growth of two eucalyptus clones seedlings, considering the possible extension of their use. The herbicides used were atrazine, nicosulfuron and tembotrione, and formulated mixtures were foramsulfurom + iodosulfurom-methyl and fluazifop-p-butyl + fomesafen, applied at doses corresponding to 3, 6 and 12% of the recommended dose. It was evaluated percentage of intoxication, height, stem diameter and shoot dry mass. Herbicides affected the growth of eucalyptus plants, mainly by limiting increase in shoot dry mass. The risk of productivity loss in case of intoxication if drift occurs is reduced with the use of atrazine, foramsulfurom + iodosulfurom-methyl and tembotrione and it was higher with the use of fluazifop-p-butyl + fomesafen and nicosulfuron. Among the tested products, tembotrione is the one that shows the greatest potential to be used in eucalyptus areas.
Plant intoxication; Herbicide drift and Tree species
