The nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus) is a harmful weed of difficult control, causing reduction of stand and yield of a wide variety of commercial crops. Due to its aggressiveness, reproduction capacity, high dispersion and rusticity, its control is difficult and costly. The aim of this work was to evaluate alternative methods of nutsedge control based on allelopathy and homeopathy. In the management with allelopathy, aqueous extracts of jack bean (Canavalia ensiformes), black velvet bean (Stizolobium aterrimum), rosemary pepper (Lippia sidoides) and lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus) were tested. With homeopathy, the Hahnemannian centesimal scale was used, testing the 3CH, 6CH, 9CH and 12CH dynamizations. Both experiments were conducted in transparent Gerboxes containing washed coarse sand, 1 to 3 mm thick grains, and 10 healthy nutsedge tubers, distributed evenly within the container. After the application of the treatments, the containers were placed in a BOD germination chamber at 25 oC with a 12 hour photoperiod, where they remained for 15 days until the final evaluation. The extract presenting the best nutsedge management was rosemary pepper, which reduced plantlet emergence percentage and vigor, with the extract of this species causing a length reduction in the nutsedge plant higher than that of 2.5 kg ha-1 a.i. of atrazine, the herbicide used for comparison. The homeopathy treatment did not present a significant difference, not exhibiting the expected effect with its nutsedge control dynamizations. The lemon grass, black velvet bean and jack bean extracts did not present allelopathic effects. However the rosemary pepper extract was found to be promising as a nutsedge alternative management, with further studies being necessary to elucidate the chemical principles involved and its true action in the metabolism of the plant.
allelopathy; aqueous extracts; alternative control
