Use of natural herbicides as potential desiccants in beans

Abstract

Introduction. Various natural substances with herbicidal potential could be promising for drying beans. Objective. The objective of this work was to evaluate the drying effect on bean plants, of substances of natural origin and glacial acetic acid. Materials and methods. On that area, at the physiological maturity stage of the crop, experimental plots 5 m in length were randomly established to test the next treatments: extract of Pinus spp. 15 % (3.75 kg ai ha-1) and garlic extract 60 % (6 kg ai ha-1), pure D-limonene (500 ml l-1) + Sulfonic VBS-D10 4.76 % (% v / v), and glacial acetic 99,3 % (49,65 kg ia ha-1); a control without herbicide spraying was included. The degree of visual damage found in the bean foliage was recorded at 2 and 15 days after spraying (das); Furthermore, at the end of the experiment the dry weight of the grain was recorded. Results. Two days after spraying, acetic acid and garlic extract showed the the highest dessicant effect on the crop. At 15 das, the same degree of damage was obtained with the use of all substances, except d-limonene, which caused moderate damage. The grain weight was higher when d-limonene was used. Conclusion. All natural herbicides caused a moderate to severe degree of damage to the bean foliage, however, causing moderate damage to the through d-limonene was sufficient to obtain a greater weight of the bean grains.