Efficiency of green manures in the suppression of spontaneous plants in an agroforestry system in the humid tropics of Maranhão

Abstract

The management of spontaneous vegetation in agroecosystems can be carried out on an
agroecological basis, without the use of herbicides to maintain them at levels that do not compete
with crops of economic interest. The use of green manure is a strategic technique for this
purpose. In order to evaluate the efficiency of green manures in the suppression of spontaneous
plants, an experiment was carried out at the School Farm of the State University of Maranhão,
in the city of. Between the lines of an 8 - year - old Agroforestry System composed of
Acaí and Cupuaçu , With a total area of 2,500 m2. The experimental design was a randomized
block design, with five treatments, one control, four blocks and four replications. The planting
of green manures, coupled with sustainable management practices, directly influenced the
development of invasive plants, besides being an inexpensive technique and easy to replicate
by the farmer, reduces the use of pesticides and the contamination of the environment.