Alternativas para o controle de plantas espontâneas no cultivo do abacaxizeiro

The objective of this study was to verify the viability of using crop residues as ground cover, in addition to traditional methods, as a way to control spontaneous plants in pineapple cultivation. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with three replications, and eight treatments were used between the rows of pineapple: (1) herbicide; (2) mowing; (3) hand weeding; ground cover with (4) caete leaves and stalks; (5) corn crop residues; (6) bean crop residues; (7) sugar cane leaves and (8) banana leaves. Each plot consisted of four rows of pineapple in 1.0 x 0.2 m spacing; each row consisted of 12 plants, totaling 48 per plot. Morphometric and qualitative characteristics of pineapple fruits were evaluated, besides the production of spontaneous plants. The results indicated that the highest dry mass yield of spontaneous plants occurred in herbicide and mowing treatments in contrast to that produced by beans. The most promising soil cover with banana leaves was similar to the traditional weeding and herbicide treatments for pineapple yield, fruit size, crownless fruit mass and fruit quality, as well as control of spontaneous plants.