Glyphosate as a growth regulator in Bermuda grass under different substrates

Resumo

Glyphosate may be an alternative to mechanical mowing management, which may reduce turfgrass growth without harming the development of plant, and associated with the use of the correct cultivation base, it may benefit the plant. This work was developed with the objective of evaluating the use of glyphosate as a growth regulator in Bermuda grass, in different cultivation bases. The experiment was achieved in 2017. The hybrid Bermuda grass ‘Tifway 419’ carpets were planted in 8.46 L containers with different substrates and, after 60 days, the first application of glyphosate was performed, forming a 5 x 4 factorial scheme (substrates x glyphosate doses) with three replicates. The cultivation substrates were: S1 - soil, S2 - sand, S3 - soil + sand (1:1), S4 - soil + sand + organic compost (1:1:1) and S5 - organic compost + sand (1:1); and the following glyphosate doses (g ha^-1 of active ingredient): 0, 200, 400 and 600. Chemical analyses of the substrates, photosynthetic pigments, fresh and dry mass and leaf macronutrients were performed. Glyphosate has great potential to be used as a growth regulator in Bermuda grass Tifway 419, as there was an effect of the herbicide doses on turf development, and the dose of 400 g a.i. ha^-1 provided reduction in fresh and dry mass without major changes in macronutrients and photosynthetic pigments, mainly when grown in S4.