Weed Control in Maize Crop with Gliricidia Intercropping

Gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium), a perennial leguminous species presenting fast growth and several allelopathic substances, is cultivated for multiple purposes. There are good evidences that gliricidia intercropped with maize efficiently controls weeds. This work aimed to evaluate the use of gliricidia intercropped with maize as a method of weed control in maize (hybrid AG 1051). The experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design with eight replications. The treatments consisted of: maize cropping with hand-hoeing weed control (at 20 and 40 days after sowing); no weed control; and intercropping with gliricidia. Gliricidia was sown in-rows using 25 seeds m(-2) after maize sowing. Fifteen weed species were found and classified in the experimental area, with the most frequent one being Commelina benghalensis. Green ear yield (with husk and without husk) obtained with intercropping was equal to, or greater than 85% of the yields obtained with weeding. In addition, the grain yield from intercropping reached 80% of grain yield of the corn weeded. Therefore, intercropping maize-gliricidia may be a viable alternative for the production of green corn and grain, although it did not influence the density and dry biomass of the weeds.