Resumo O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a eficácia e a seletividade de herbicidas aplicados em pré-emergência no cultivo de melão (Cucumis melo). Os experimentos foram conduzidos de 2017 a 2018, no delineamento de blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições, no estado do Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil. Os tratamentos consistiram na aplicação pré-emergencial de: 35 g ha-1 i.a. de flumioxazin, 25 g ha-1 i.a. de flumioxazin, 250 g ha-1 i.a. de sulfentrazone, 480 g ha-1 i.a. de metribuzin, 240 g ha-1 i.a. de oxyfluorfen, 240 g ha-1 i.a. de oxyf luorfen + 960 g ha-1 i.a. de S-metolachlor, 360 g ha-1 i.a. de clomazone e 360 g ha-1 i.a. de clomazone + 240 g ha-1 i.a. de oxyfluorfen; em 2018, o metribuzin não apresentou seletividade e foi substituído por 480 g ha-1 i.a. de ametrina and 1.600 g ha-1 i.a. de diuron. Foram avaliados a produtividade e a qualidade dos frutos, bem como o nível de controle e a massa seca das plantas daninhas. Os herbicidas metribuzin, ametrina e diuron causaram a morte das plantas de melão. A melhor eficiência no controle das plantas daninhas foi obtida com a mistura e clomazone + oxyfluorfen, seguida de oxyfluorfen, oxyfluorfen + S-metolachlor e clomazone. Os tratamentos com oxyfluorfen, oxyfluorfen + S-metolachlor e clomazone + oxyfluorfen não foram considerados seletivos. O clomazone foi o único herbicida seletivo nos dois anos de avaliação e pode ser alternativa para o controle de plantas daninhas na cultura do melão.

Abstract The objective of this work was to evaluate the effectiveness and selectivity of herbicides applied at preemergence to the melon (Cucumis melo) crop. The experiments were carried out from 2017 to 2018, in a randomized complete block design, with four replicates, in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. The treatments consisted of the preemergence application of: 35 g ha-1 a.i. flumioxazin, 25 g ha-1 a.i. flumioxazin, 250 g ha-1 a.i. sulfentrazone, 480 g ha-1 a.i. metribuzin, 240 g ha-1 a.i. oxyfluorfen, 240 g ha-1 a.i. oxyfluorfen + 960 g ha-1 a.i. S-metolachlor, 360 g ha-1 a.i. clomazone, and 360 g ha-1 a.i. clomazone + 240 g ha-1 a.i. oxyfluorfen; in 2018, metribuzin did not show selectivity and was substituted by 480 g ha-1 a.i. ametryn and 1,600 g ha-1 a.i. diuron. Fruit yield and quality, as well as weed control and dry mass, were evaluated. The metribuzin, ametryn, and diuron herbicides caused melon plant death. The best efficiency in weed control was obtained with the mixture clomazone + oxyfluorfen, followed by oxyfluorfen, oxyfluorfen + S-metolachlor, and clomazone. The treatments with oxyfluorfen, oxyfluorfen + S-metolachlor, and clomazone + oxyfluorfen were not considered selective. Clomazone was the only selective herbicide in the two years of evaluation and can be an alternative for weed control in melon crops.

ABSTRACT. The management of weeds in melon is hindered by the slow initial growth of the crop, favouring weed infestation and reducing production. During the years 2016 and 2017, weed interference periods were evaluated in two melon hybrids, yellow and frog skin, to determine the time of weed control in the crop. Four-parameter logistic regression was used to determine the critical weed control period (CPWC). The weed species with the highest occurrences in 2016 were Merremia aegyptia, Senna obtusifolia, and Urochloa plantaginea. In 2017, there was a predominance of M. aegyptia, indicating the possibility of successive cultivation, favouring the predominance of species with growth habits similar to melons. The increase in the period of living with weeds reduced the productivity and quality of melon fruits. Coexistence with weeds throughout the cycle reduced productivity by about 50%. The CPWC was 15 to 58 and 10 to 45 for frog skin and 12 to 52 and 4 to 50 days for yellow melon in 2016 and 2017, respectively, considering a productivity loss of 5%. These results underscore the importance of adopting strategies that allow melons to grow free from the presence of weeds, especially before they are fully established in the growing area.

RESUMO No ambiente agrícola é comum a ocorrência de estresse de origem biótica e abiótica, como a interferência das plantas daninhas e o déficit hídrico no solo, respectivamente. Porém, pouco se conhece sobre os efeitos da interação desses estresses sobre o crescimento de espécies cultivadas e daninhas. Desta maneira, objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar os efeitos da competição e do déficit hídrico sobre o crescimento de girassol e plantas daninhas. O experimento foi realizado em delineamento em blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos foram arranjados em fatorial 5x2, com o primeiro fator correspondente aos arranjos de competição entre as espécies (girassol + Waltheria indica; girassol + Amaranthus spinosus; girassol, W. indica e A. spinosus em monocultivo), e o segundo dos regimes hídricos (irrigado e déficit hídrico). O déficit hídrico foi estabelecido quando as plantas de girassol apresentavam seis folhas expandidas - estádio V6 e mantido até que a taxa de assimilação de CO2 das plantas alcançasse valores próximos à zero (6 dias), quando foi retomada a irrigação, sendo mantida até aos 40 dias, momento em que as plantas foram coletadas. Os componentes de crescimento avaliados foram: altura de planta, área foliar, massa seca de folha, caule, raiz e total. A competição entre plantas reduz o crescimento do girassol, W. indica e A. spinosus. As espécies W. indica e A. spinosus agravam os efeitos negativos do déficit hídrico sobre o crescimento do girassol. O déficit hídrico não afeta o crescimento da espécie W. indica. O A. spinosus é mais competitivo com o girassol do que a W. indica.

ABSTRACT In the agricultural environment, the occurrence of biotic and abiotic stresses, such as weed interference and soil water deficit is common. However, little is known about the effects of the interaction of these stresses on the growth of cultivated crops and weed species. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of competition and water deficiency on the growth of sunflowers and weeds. The experiment was performed in a randomized block design with four replications. The treatments were arranged in a 5 × 2 factorial design, with the first factor corresponding to the competition arrangements between the species (sunflower + Waltheria indica; sunflower + Amaranthus spinosus; and sunflower, W. indica, and A. spinosus in monoculture without competition) and the second factor corresponding to water regimes (irrigated and water deficit). The water deficit regime was established when the sunflower plants had six expanded leaves (V6 stage) and was maintained until the rate of CO2 assimilation of the plants reached values close to zero (6 days), after which irrigation was resumed and maintained until 40 days after emergence, when the plants were collected and evaluated. The growth components evaluated were plant height, leaf area, dry leaf mass, dry stem mass, dry root mass, and total dry mass. Competition between plants decreased sunflower, W. indica, and A. spinosus growth. W. indica and A. spinosus aggravated the negative effects of water deficiency on sunflower growth. The water deficit regime did not affect the growth of W. indica. A. spinosus was more competitive with the sunflower than was W. indica.