Effects of the width of weed control strips on coffee plant performance

Abstract

This work aimed to evaluate the effects of weed control or coexistence strip width on the yield of coffee plants (Coffea arabica cv. Rubi). The treatments consisted of weed control or coexistence strips of different widths, i.e., , 4, 8, 12, 16, 2, and 25 cm . The coexistence strip was obtained by the control of weeds between the crop rows whereas the weed control strips consisted in the controlling of the weeds on the plant rows. The weed control strip ( weeds in the row were submitted to control) promoted better yield and plant development than the control of weeds between the crop rows. When the control was done in the crop row, it was verified that between the strip of 8 and 25 cm there were no significant differences of yield, but it was verified increment of the yield with strips of up to 12 cm. The plants that remained in weed free areas showed the best performance of all. Additional keywords: interference; Coffea arabica; competition