How to manage weeds during the soybean off-season?

The concern with the management of weeds in soybeans cannot be restricted to pre-sowing (desiccation) or the soybean crop cycle with pre- and post-emergent. Weeds compete for water, light and nutrients and can compromise the final productivity of oilseed grains, therefore, it is interesting that weed management is already considered when implementing the soil cover that will precede soybean sowing.

Weed management during the off-season, using good soil cover or even wheat itself, and sometimes associated with chemical intervention, aims to facilitate management during soybean cultivation. Soil covers in the off-season, in addition to improving the physical, chemical and biological conditions of the soil, are important tools for managing weeds in areas with soybeans in succession. In addition to this suppressive effect, some cover crops also exert an allelopathic effect, as well as minimizing temperature variations on the surface and helping to maintain water in the soil through reduced evaporation. Therefore, knowing each soil cover in relation to seeding density, cycle, competitive capacity and its use alone or in a mix is essential for them to play their role as weed suppressing plants.