Phytosociological aspects and weed management using cover crops on organic conilon coffee plantations

Abstract

Weeds can bring benefits to agriculture, but when incorrectly managed they can compete with commercial crops for resources. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect that cover crops, associated with Coffea canephora cv. Conilon, imposes to the weed community. Cover crops were planted between the rows of a 6.5 years old organic coffee plantation spaced 2.0 x 1.5 m. The experiment was arranged in a complete randomized block design, with four replications, in a factorial scheme with the following treatments: control, Pennisetum glaucum and the legume plants: Canavalia ensiformis, Mucuna deeringiana and Cajanus cajan, with and without Rizobium inoculation. Cover crops dry weight and nutrient contents on coffee trees were determined. Weeds density, frequency, relative abundance, importance value index and plant similarity index were also determined. Twenty seven weed species were identified, with special emphasis on Bidens subalternans and Commelina benghalensis. Cover crops promote modifications on the succession dynamics of weeds and do not interfere with the development of the coffee trees. Canavalia ensiformis, Mucuna deeringiana and Pennisetum glaucum help on weed control.