Alternativas agroecológicas para el manejo de hierbas en el cultivo de maíz (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

The simplification and intensification of maize (Zea mays L.) cropping system in recent decades have favoured the use of herbicides for weed management. These have an impact on soil, water and biodiversity. This scenario demands the search for integrated strategies for weed management. Agroecological practices allow the production of healthy food, the promotion of ecological processes and agroecosystem services. This contribution is aimed to to generate agroecological weed management strategies in the maize cropping system and regional references of weed-maize interaction. An experimental protocol was established where polycultures and allelopathic plant extracts were evaluated. The evaluations determined that alternative weed management through multiple cropping (squash-beans) reduced weed biomass. This opens the prospect of generating alternative weed management strategies.