Phytosociological Survey of Weeds in Areas of Crop-Livestock Integration

Abstract

The dynamics of the weeds in the areas of crop-livestock integration is constantly changing de pending on the various uses of the area. This study identified and quantified the floristic composi tion of weeds in areas of integration of maize for silage with Urochloa ruziziensis cv. Common at different densities of grass (0, 4 and 10 k g · ha - 1 ) to grazing of beef cattle. The experimental design was completely randomized. A square of side0.5 m(0.25 m 2 area) was launched 24 times in each study area. The survey was conducted at the grain filling stage of maize. The specie contained in each frame were identified and counted. The phytosociological survey identified 9 families of weeds in areas assessed, with 7 families in every area of integrated cultivation maize with Uroch loa ruziziensis at densities of 10 kg · ha - 1 and 4 kg · ha - 1 and 8 families in the area of maize cultivated alone. The Asteraceae family was the most represented in number of species. Sida spp (Malvaceae) showed greater potential to cause damage to maize. Urochloa ruziziensis at planting density of 10 kg · ha - 1 provided greater competition with weeds in the integration with maize.