SOWING DEPTH AND SOIL TEXTURE IN SEEDLING EMERGENCE OF Senna occidentalis

Senna occidentalis, popularly known as ‘fedegoso’ in Brazil and South American regions, is a very problematic weed species in pasture areas as well as in annual and perennial crops. Management strategies of this species range from the use of crates to the practice of cultural management with straw and the use of herbicides. Knowledge of the ability of this species to emerge from great depths is important for the adoption of preventive management strategies. The research aimed to verify how deep this species emerges in Amazonian soil. It was found that even at 10.0 cm depth the seedlings could emerge and form with the same height as those kept near the soil surface. For the species, the best depths were between 2.0 and 6.0 cm, indicating that these conditions favor its development.