The imidazolinone herbicides have, in general, low soil sorption and high water solubility, and for this reason, the levels of soil moisture can affect the availability of these herbicides and their effect on susceptible crops. Aiming at comparing the effect of rates of the formulated mixture of imazethapyr + imazapic (75 + 25 g a.i. L-1) on the growth of ryegrass plants in soil with three levels of moisture, an experiment was performed in greenhouse, in a randomized block design with four replications. The treatments were a combination of seven levels of the factor rate (0, 100, 200, 300, 400, 600 and 800 mL ha-1 of formulated product) combined with three levels of soil moisture factor (0, -10 and -100 kPa). There was an increase in injury and reduction of shoot dry weight with increasing rates of the herbicide, with lower effects in soil with -100 kPa moisture content. The water content in soil alters the injury caused by the formulated mixture imazethapyr + imazapic on ryegrass, with this crop being the most affected in soils with higher moisture levels.
environmental impact; Lolium multiflorum; residue; persistence
