The residues left on the soil surface after sugarcane automated harvest, without previous slash-and-burn, constitute a physical barrier against the action of herbicides applied at pre-emergence conditions of the weeds. Thus, this research aimed to analyze and quantify the interference of this crop residue layer left on the soil surface in the action of the herbicides imazapic and imazapic + pendimethalin to control weeds. Two simultaneous assays were performed: one by removing the crop residue two days after herbicide application and the other by maintaining it, both conducted under greenhouse conditions. The imazapic was applied at the rates of 0, 122.5 and 147 g a.i. ha-1 and the mixture with pendimethalin at the a rate of 75 + 1500 g a.i. ha-1, with simulation of 30, 60 and 90 mm rainfall intensity. Analysis of dry biomass, height and leaf number results of the Sorghum bicolor and Cyperus rotundus plants, as well as visual rating and dry biomass of Panicum maximum, Brachiaria plantaginea, Digitaria horizontalis, Amaranthus viridis, Ipomoea grandifolia and Brachiaria decumbens, indicated that weed control efficacy was proportional to herbicide rate, regardless of the presence of crop residue, except for Ipomoea grandifolia and Brachiaria decumbens. There was less control in the treatments submitted to 90 mm rainfall. These results indicate good perspectives in spraying these herbicides in sugarcane automated harvest areas without previous slash-and-burn for weed pre emergence control.
percolation; straw; physical barrier; automated harvest
