Physiology and Development of Soybean under Light Supplementation Treated with Herbicides in the Field

• Published in: Agronomy (Basel) Vol. 14; no. 4; p. 824
• Main Authors: dos Santos, Edson Aparecido, Vacari, André Abrão, Ferreira, Danilo Pires, Cardoso, Filipe Ademar Souza, Lemes, Ernane Miranda, Barroso, Gabriela Madureira, Coelho, Victor Peçanha de Miranda, Silva, Leirian Paloma dos Santos, Modesto, Patrícia dos Santos
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01-04-2024
• Subjects: Agricultural commodities; Amino acids; Biomass; Biosynthesis; center pivot irrigation; Chlorophyll; Chloroplasts; Crop production; Crop yield; Crop yields; Dietary supplements; Electron transport; Enzymes; Fluorescence; Glycine max; Glyphosate; Herbicides; Humidity; Innovations; Irrigation; Laboratories; Light emitting diodes; light-emitting diode; Metolachlor; nutrients; Panels; physiological parameters; production components; Productivity; Soybeans; Technological change; Transport rate; Weed control; Weeds; Brazil; United Kingdom
• ISSN: 2073-4395; 2073-4395
• DOI: 10.3390/agronomy14040824

Soy is Brazil’s main commodity, and due to its importance, farmers have adopted several technological innovations, such as light supplementation, to increase grain productivity and quality. However, the use of artificial light can interfere with weed dynamics and herbicide efficiency. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of herbicides on weed control and qualitative and quantitative attributes of soybeans grown under light supplementation. A field experiment was set up in the city of Monte Carmelo, MG, Brazil. The treatments were distributed in plots mounted under a central pivot in two environments: with light supplementation (LED panels) and without light supplementation. The treatments were distributed across four blocks, and plots were subdivided in space. The herbicides used were glyphosate, diclosulam and glyphosate, s-metolachlor and glyphosate, fomesafen + clethodim, flumioxazin + clethodim. The variables analyzed were the number of weeds, biomass, and control; chlorophyll levels; initial fluorescence; ratio of variable fluorescence to maximum fluorescence; and soybean electron transport rate—indicators of soybean yield. Light supplementation increases the density and biomass of weeds and impairs the effectiveness of herbicides. However, light supplementation with LED panels installed on the central irrigation pivot promotes increased productivity and improvements in the quantitative and qualitative parameters of soybeans. Due to these benefits, light supplementation can be considered advantageous for irrigated soybean production.