Growth and agronomic performance of soybean applied with pre-emergence herbicides

Among the factors that limit the productive potential of soybean crops, stands out lodging, in addition to competition with weeds. Given this, the importance of soybean pre-emergence herbicides for different purposes is highlighted; however, they have to be evaluated for selectivity. This study aimed to evaluate the growth and agronomic performance of soybean applied with pre-emergence herbicides. Experiment 1 was conducted in the 2017-2018 season at two locations, and experiment 2 in the 2016-2017 season at one location. Treatments consisted of the application of pre-emergence herbicides in soybean in a randomized block design with four replications. Crop injury and chlorophyll indices (experiment 1) and variables related to agronomic performance (experiments 1 and 2) were assessed. Diclosulam and chlorimuron showed potential for application at pre-emergence to reduce plant height and consequently plant lodging. Moreover, diclosulam, chlorimuron, sulfentrazone, flumioxazin, s-metolachlor, pendimethalin, trifluralin, imazethapyr/flumioxazin, and oxyfluorfen did not negatively affect agronomic performance when applied at pre-emergence of soybean. This study evidenced the selectivity of pre-emergence herbicides to soybean.