ABSTRACT The use of ultra-coarse droplets for herbicide application reduces the risk of drift but may compromise the coverage and efficacy of the treatment. The objective of this work was to evaluate the use of ultra-coarse droplets, in different spray volumes, in the application of dicamba herbicide in association with glyphosate, for the control of weeds in two field trials. The first trial was conducted in a 5 x 2 factorial design, with five spray volumes (58, 72, 96, 144, and 177 L ha-1) and two air induction flat-fan spray tips (MUG 110015 - MagnoJet and TTI 110015 - Teejet). The control efficiency of Commelina benghalensis and the spray deposition on the target were evaluated by detecting a tracer using spectrophotometry. The second was conducted in a 2 x 2 factorial scheme, using two volumes (100 and 125 L ha-1) and two tips (MUG 11002 and TTI 11002). The control efficiency of Conyza spp. and fresh matter were evaluated. The different spray volumes and tips did not differ in relation to the deposition of the tracer. The use of ultra-coarse droplets was adequate for weed control. The TTI and MUG tips gave similar and adequate control performance starting at 96 L ha-1. Increasing the volume above 100 L ha-1 did not result in better control.

RESUMO A evolução de plantas daninhas resistentes e tolerantes ao glyphosate tem causado mudanças no manejo de plantas daninhas em todo o mundo. Herbicidas residuais são cruciais para o manejo dessas plantas daninhas, porém a taxa de adoção dessas ferramentas ainda é significativamente baixa no Brasil. Nesta pesquisa, Ipomoea triloba tolerante ao glyphosate foi utilizada como uma espécie modelo para avaliar, em múltiplos anos e localidades do Brasil, as vantagens de se utilizar herbicidas residuais em soja, comparado ao controle realizado apenas em pós-emergência. A maioria dos herbicidas residuais proporcionaram atividade residual suficiente para uma janela maior de aplicação em pós-emergência. Tratamentos com herbicidas residuais também aumentaram o controle final de plantas daninhas, prevenindo a interferência inicial com a soja, o que refletiu em maior produtividade. Maiores porcentagens de controle sobre I. triloba foram observadas quando dois herbicidas residuais foram utilizados, em comparação à apenas um, especialmente nos anos e localidades com alta infestação. O uso de herbicidas utilizados em pré-emergência permite uma janela de aplicação maior em pós-emergência, o que pode ser importante em grandes propriedades onde logística constitui um entrave.

ABSTRACT The evolution of glyphosate-resistant and -tolerant weeds has caused changes in weed management around the world. Residual herbicides are crucial tools for weed management, but the rate of adoption by soybean growers remains very low in Brazil. In this research, we used glyphosate tolerant Ipomoea triloba as a model weed species to evaluate the advantages of using residual herbicides on soybeans in multiple years and locations of transition and Cerrado regions of Brazil, rather than relying only on post-emergence control. Most residual herbicides provided enough residual activity to allow a longer application window in post-emergence. Treatments with residual herbicides increased overall weed control, preventing weed interference and increasing soybean yield. When two residual herbicides were used as opposed to only one, a better I. triloba control was achieved, reflecting in higher crop yield, especially in conditions of high weed infestation. The use of pre-emergence herbicides allows growers to have a longer application window for the post-emergence treatment, which is particularly important in Brazilian Cerrado large fields when logistic could be an issue.