Effect of the use of pre- and post-emergence herbicides on nodulation and production of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) in the Amazonian savannah

As a control measure against weeds, the use of herbicides is an effective and inexpensive alternative. However, there are no products recommended for the cultivation of cowpea in Brazil, making it necessary to search for alternative solutions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of herbicides applied in the pre- and post-emergence on cowpea nodulation and production under conditions of the Amazonian savannah. Two experiments were carried out in a randomized block design with four replicates, using the cowpea cultivar BRS Aracê subjected to the pre-emergence herbicides: Metribuzin, Sulfentrazone, Smetolachlor, Pendimethalin, Oxadiazon, Alachlor, Metribuzin + Pendimethalin, Metribuzin + Alachlor and Quizalofop-p-ethyl, Bentazon, Fomesafen, Imazethapyr, Imazamox + Bentazon, Quizalofop-p-ethyl + Imazethapyr, Quizalofop-p-ethyl + Imazamox and Quizalofop-p-ethyl + Bentazon, and post-emergence herbicides: Quizalofop-p-ethyl, Bentazon, Fomesafen, Imazethapyr, Imazamox + Bentazon, Quizalofop-p-ethyl + Imazethapyr, Quizalofop-p-ethyl + Imazamox, and Quizalofop-p-ethyl + Bentazon. The number of nodules in each plant, the dry matter of nodules, dry matter of roots and the grain yield were evaluated. According to the results obtained, the management of weeds in pre- or post-emergence according to the herbicide used affects the nodulation and productivity of cowpea under the conditions of the Amazonian savannah. The herbicides Metribuzin in preemergence,and Fomesafen and the mixture of Quizalofop-pethyl + Imazethapyr in post-emergence are not recommended for weed control in cowpea. The application of Oxadiazon, Alachlor, and Pendimethalin in pre-emergence can be considered interesting because they do not inhibit the development of the root system or the nodulation of cowpea which provides agreater grain yield. Regarding weed control strategies at postemergence, the application of the herbicide Imazethapyr and the combination of the herbicides quizalofop-p-ethyl + imazamox, Quizalofop-p-ethyl + Bentazon and Imazamox + Bentazon allow satisfactory levels of grain yield, root system development and nodulation of cowpea.