ECOLOGICAL SUSTAINABILITY AND WEED SELECTION IN LONG-TERM CROP ROTATION INVOLVING OFF-SEASON MAIZE IN TROPICAL BRAZIL

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DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18512/ijms2026e1359

Abstract

Maize is important in crop rotation in Tropical Brazil, with vast off-season following
soybeans. Off-season maize is being grown intercropped with forages to supply pastures to cattle after
maize harvest and to help with weed suppression. There is, however, scarce information on weed
dynamics in the soybean and maize + forage cropping system, mainly in the long term. The objective
was to evaluate weed infestation and the ecological sustainability of successive years of off-season
maize cultivation, under crop succession with soybean. The phytosociological method was used to
assess the importance value of weed infestation in five areas: T1 four years of soybean/off-season
maize + brachiaria; T2 four years of soybean/cowpea bean; T3 four years of soybean/off-season
maize; T4 six years of soybean/off-season maize; T5 nine years of soybean/off-season maize. In
general, T1 had lower absolute infestation, and the longer the maize-soybean succession, the more
weeds there were. The main species found were Digitaria horizontalis, Gnaphalium coarctatum,
Commelina benghalensis, and Conyza ssp., all occurring only in areas with longer maize and
soybean succession. Therefore, different cropping systems influence weed composition and absolute
infestation levels. The use of maize intercropped with brachiaria can be a tool in weed control for
maize producers.

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Published

2026-04-30

How to Cite

Melo, T. S., Ceccon, G., Barbosa Xavier da Silva, L., Fachinelli, R., & Concenço, G. (2026). ECOLOGICAL SUSTAINABILITY AND WEED SELECTION IN LONG-TERM CROP ROTATION INVOLVING OFF-SEASON MAIZE IN TROPICAL BRAZIL. International Journal of Maize & Sorghum, 23. https://doi.org/10.18512/ijms2026e1359

Issue

Vol. 23 (2026): International Journal of Maize and Sorghum

Section

Scientific Paper

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Copyright (c) 2026 Thaís Stradioto Melo, Gessi Ceccon,Laryssa Barbosa Xavier da Silva, Ricardo Fachinelli, Germani Concenço

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