Abstract

ARAMENDIZ-TATIS, Hermes; CARDONA-AYALA, Carlos  and  DE ORO, Rafael. Weed interference period in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) crops. Agron. colomb. [online]. 2010, vol.28, n.1, pp.81-88. ISSN 0120-9965.

Considering the importance of eggplant in the Colombian Caribbean horticulture, and based on the maximum period of weed interference on the crop, the current work intended to lay the foundation of a sustainable and integrated weed management control program through a field experiment conducted in Universidad de Cordoba, in the municipality of Monteria, Cordoba department, Colombia (8°39' N;  5° 58' W). The experimental units were arranged in a completely randomized block design with four replications and seven treatments, which consisted in increasing weed control periods followed by no weed control. The results indicate that the most prevalent weeds were 'paja Mona' (Leptochloa filiformis [Lam.] Beauv.), 'caminadora' (Rottboellia cochinchinensis [Lour.] W.D. Clayton), 'liendre de puerco' (Echinochloa colona [L.] Link.), coquito (Cyperus rotundus L.) and 'bledo' (Amaranthus retroflexus L.). The presence of weeds adversely affected plant height; stem diameter, yield and fruit quality. The local cultivar Criollo lila must remain weed-free for the first 40 days to prevent yield and fruit quality losses. Considering the profile of the farmers of the Sinu valley, the recommendations are: i) for small planted areas, the use of physical methods such as hand removal or weeding with machete or other tools, plus cultural practices; and ii) for large areas, pre-sowing herbicides combined with physical methods and cultural practices

Keywords : plant height; crop weed competition; yield; fruit vegetables.

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