-This study has aimed to carry out a phytosociological survey of weeds in different collection periods, in cassava crops of two varieties grown in two consecutive years. The varieties were Pão, of the sweet class, and Racha-terra, of the bitter class. The weeds surveys were performed at 28, 56, 84, 112, 140, 168, 196, 224, 252, 280 and 308 days after planting in the experimental units of each variety. For weeds sampling, a sampler with an area of 0.25 m 2 released twice at random in the floor area of the treatments was used. The phytosociological survey quantified 5,708 individuals distributed in 17 families, represented by 32 species, of which 25 were dicotyledonous and seven were monocotyledonous. The most representative families in number of species were Euphorbiaceae and Poaceae, followed by Cyperaceae and Fabaceae. The most important species in the two growing seasons were Axonopus affinis, Mimosa pudica, Spermacoce verticillata and Paspalum multicaule. Other important species of the Poaceae family were Axonopus affinis, Axonopus fissifolius and Homolepis aturensis.Keywords: competition, tillage, Manihot esculenta. 28, 56, 84, 112, 140, 168, 196, 224, 252, 280 RESUMO -Este estudo objetivou realizar levantamento fitossociológico de plantas daninhas em diferentes períodos de coleta, em cultivo de duas variedades de mandioca, em dois anos consecutivos. As variedades foram Pão, da classe mansa, e Racha-terra, da classe brava. Os levantamentos das plantas daninhas foram realizados aos

Weeds can occur in cultivated areas, competing with crops and causing considerable losses. Herbicides are the basis of weed control; however, they are questionable due to their possible negative impacts on human health and the environment. An alternative for controlling weeds is using cover plants. This study aimed to determine the floristic composition of weeds in an Amazonian agrosystem with cover plants and to evaluate the production of biomass, the soil cover rate and the weed suppression potential of cover plants. The experimental design was in randomized blocks, in a 4 x 2 factorial scheme. The factors under study were the cover species (Brachiaria ruziziensis, Canavalia ensiformis, Mucuna deeringiana) and the control group that consisted of weeds, evaluated during two agricultural years (2017 and 2018), with four replicates. Digitaria horizontalis was the most important weed species and was completely suppressed by B. ruziziensis. This cover type had a large production of biomass, greater coverage of the soil and high suppression of weeds in the Amazonian agrosystem.

Dead cover, or mulch, consisting of plant residues, plays an important role for the success of diverse agricultural crops, working as an insulating layer protecting the soil from daytime temperature variations and maintaining the soil moist and rich in organic matter. Cowpea is a source of proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. Its importance in the North, Northeast and Midwest regions of the country is associated with economic and social aspects, since it is an important food for low-income populations, supplying their nutritional needs. This study was carried out under greenhouse conditions in Manaus, state of Amazonas, with the purpose of assessing the effect of different dead covers on the agronomic characteristics of cowpea cultivars. It consisted of a completely randomized design in a 4 × 4 factorial arrangement. The treatments comprised four cowpea cultivars (BRS Caldeirão, BRS Tumucumaque, BRS Guariba and BRS Tracuateua) and three species of cover plants (Brachiaria decumbens, Brachiaria ruziziensis and Mucuna pruriens) and one control treatment, without soil cover, in a total of 16 treatments, with four replications and two plants per experimental unit. Analysis of variance was applied to the data, and the means were compared by the Scott-Knott’s test at 5% probability level. The following characteristics were examined: number of pods per plant, pod length, number of seeds per pod, weight of shoot dry matter, and grain yield. Mulching provided better results for all characteristics assessed in the four cultivars when compared to the control. BRS Caldeirão is the recommended cultivar for the state of Amazonas and the other regions with similar edaphoclimatic characteristics (high air temperature, rainfall, air humidity, and low-fertility tropical soils) because it exhibited the greatest number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, shoot dry matter, and the highest average grain yield (Freire Filho et al., 2011; Souza et al., 2016).

The unsuitable use of herbicides damages many cultures. In cases of high infestations and presence of aggressive weed species in guarana (Paullinia cupana) culture, glyphosate application is advisable, but its impact on guarana physiology is unknown. Therefore, leaf photosynthetic characteristics were measured with the aim of identifying if the photosynthetic performance of guaranazeiro plants is affected in response to glyphosate application. Three glyphosate doses (0 (control); 324 and 432 g a.i. ha-1) were applied to two guaranazeiro cultivars (BRS-Andirá and BRS-Maués) selected on the basis of productive performance. An analysis was made of the effects of these doses on characteristics that represent the photosynthetic process: gas exchange, maximum quantum efficiency of PSII, performance index and chlorophyll content. The application of glyphosate did not affect the short-term responses relative chlorophyll content (SPAD index) and light use (chlorophyll a fluorescence). After 168 h, there were changes only in gas exchange variables. The effects of glyphosate doses on gas exchange was different between guaranazeiro cultivars. The photosynthetic performance of the guaranazeiro seems to be tolerant to the effects of short-term of glyphosate application.

Cover crops act to improve the chemical and physical quality of the soil and provide sustainability in agricultural systems. Studying the decomposition of these cover crops is key to understand the process of nutrient cycling in cultivation. The purpose of the study was to assess the decomposition and release of nutrients from cover crops in an Amazonian ecosystem. The experiment was conducted in a commercial guarana plantation area at farm Agropecuária Jayoro in Presidente Figueiredo-AM in two agricultural years (2018 and 2019), with a randomized block experimental design following a 4 × 4 factorial scheme, with four cover species (Arachis pintoi, Brachiaria ruziziensis, Canavalia ensiformis and Mucuna deeringiana) and four assessment periods (0, 60, 120, 180 days). The cover crops showed a high rate of decomposition of residues in the two years assessed. The legumes presented high initial nutrient contents. The release of N, P, Ca, and Mg was slower. K showed a rapid release from the decomposition of the residues of the assessed cover crops.