Capacidade competitiva de cultivares de feijão-caupi (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) combinada com espaçamento na supressão de plantas daninhas.

Abstract

The weed interferencein in crop areas of cowpea reduces their yield of cowpea at 90%, varying in intensity that depends on factors related to weeds community Among the options for weed management, is the cultural method in which the use of cultivars with high competitive ability coupled with narrow row spacing provides conditions for the culture to be established effectively on the soil surface. However, in order not to compromise the yield of cowpea proper use of plant density, which depends on the intrinsic characteristics of the cultivar as size, growth habit, plant architecture and management system used is required. Analysis of the correlation coefficient is a complementary tool to assess the contribution of each factor in the productivity of cowpea under this stress situation. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the competitiveness of cowpea cultivars at different spacings in upland soil in the state of Amazonas. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with three replications, arranged in sub-subplots. In the plots was used the row spacings of 0,50 m (recommended); 0,40 m and 0,30 m; in the subplots two system of control of weeds, and in sub-subplots cultivars of cowpea caupi BR8 Caldeirão, IPEAN V69, BRS Guariba e BR 17 Gurguéia. Were evaluated: leaf area, dry weight of leaves and of the aerial part, size of pods, number of pods per plant, number of pods, number of seeds per pod, harvest index, one hundred seed weight and yield, leaf area ratio, specific leaf area and leaf area index. Weed evaluation was carried at intervals of 7 days with the use of a square of 0.25 m2 that was carried out with in the useful area subplot for identification, counting and collecting weeds bounded by the square to verify the dry weight of shoots. The phytosociological parameters of frequencies, densities and abundances relative and absolute indices and importance value of species were calculated. It was used the path analysis to decompose the different correlations and their direct and indirect effects. The cv. BR8 Caldeirão had the highest values for measured characteristics followed in order of decreasing values for BRS Guariba, BR 17 Gurguéia IPEAN V69 viii respectively. The yield of cvs. showed a similar trend to the other variables analyzed. The spacing between rows of plants was not significant for productivity, but the cultivars differed from each other between different linear arrangements. The weeds highest IVI in row spacing of 0,5 e 0,4 m were Croton glandulosus and Mimosa pudica for 0,3 m. The most important species for the quantity cvs. were Paspalum multicaule for BR8 Caldeirão, Elephantopus mollis to BRS Guariba and Cleome affinis to IPEAN V69 and BR 17 Gurguéia. IPEAN V69 was the most susceptible to weed competition for dry matter production.The number of pods per plant and leaf area were the features most correlated with productivity. These features showed to be efficient for indirect selection to obtain genetic gains on the productivity of grains. Moreover, these features are also important on the indirect effects of the number of seeds per pod, plant height and dry weight of the aerial parts.