Effect of 2,4‐dichlorophenoxyacetic acid applied as a herbicide on fruit shedding and coffee yield

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of 2,4dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) applied as a herbicide at two timings after coffee blossoming, on fruit shedding from lower or upper plagiotropic branches on the canopy, as well as on crop yield. 2,4-D was sprayed between the rows on a 0.75 m-wide strip of land, starting on the border of canopy projection. Toxicity to the plants, final crop yield per plant and fruit shedding (FS) were assessed. The identical FS was observed for both application timings. Control plots showed an FS 13% lower than those where the highest 2,4-D dose was employed. FS was greater on the lower branches (46.8%) than on the upper ones (39.4%). This was probably due to injury to the lower plant canopy caused by the 2,4-D drift. Ripe or dried cherries and coffee bean yield per plant were not affected. It was concluded that despite the increased FS in the lower plant canopy, final coffee production was not significantly affected in response to 2,4-D application.

Crescimento inicial de plantas de pequi após aplicação de 2,4-D

“…Epinastia das folhas e deformações de ramos jovens e de folhas foram relatados quando ocorreu a aplicação de subdoses de 2,4-D na cultura da uva Itália (Oliveira Junior et al, 2007). Aplicando-se o herbicida 2,4-D para o controle de plantas daninhas em aplicações dirigidas na cultura do café, os sintomas de fitotoxidez no cafeeiro e o abortamento de frutos jovens também foram reportados por Ronchi et al (2005). Segundo esses autores, os efeitos foram mais prejudiciais em plantas jovens e nas doses mais altas do produto.…”

Ecophysiology of coffee growth and production

“…In Brazilian plantations of arabica coffee, fruit set from about 29% (Nacif, 1997) to 57% (Ronchi et al, 2005) has been registered. The low fruit set found by Nacif (1997) was probably the result of a heavy crop load occurring in the previous year.…”

Integrated Weed Management in Plantation Crops

“…In Brazil, ametryn plus simazine mixture applied at 2.5 and 3.0 kg/ha with glyphosate (960 g/ha) provided effective control of weeds followed by paraquat (300 g/ha). Performance of 2,4-D was not satisfactory in terms of yield of coffee beans [96].…”