EFFECT OF PLANTING DENSITIES OF “BRS PRINCESS” BANANA TREE IN THE SUPPRESSION OF WEEDS

Abstract

ABSTRACT The objective is to evaluate the effects of plant density in banana crops against weed suppression. Six treatments were used: 1,200 (3.33 x 2.5 m), 1,600 (2.5 x 2.5 m), 2,000 (2.0 x 2.5 m), 2,400 (1.67 x 2.5 m), 2,800 (1.43 x 2.5 m) and 3,200 (1.25 x 2.5 m) banana plants per hectare, arranged in an experimental design of randomized blocks with four replications. The phytosociological study of weed communities was carried out one month after transplanting and then every 90 days, totaling six samples in 16 months of cultivation, always those being held 15 days after mowing. With the data of dry mass and number of individuals per species Relative density (De.R) Relative frequency (Fr.R) Relative dominance (Do.R), importance value value (IVI) of weed communities were calculated. Forty-three 43 species of weeds associated with the crop were identified, especially in the early stages of culture, of species such as Panicum maximum and nut grass. After 90 DAT it was found that the increase in the diversity of weed species, besides the reduction in IVI of P. maximum and C. rotundus, and increased IVI for species such as C. benghalensis and Vernonia cinerea, were more adapted to shade conditions. There was a reduction in the density dominance of weeds in higher plant density treatments, especially between 210 and 300 DAT. There was a change in the population of weeds, depending on the plant spacings in the banana crop.