Influencia de herbicidas pre y pos emergentes en el comportamiento agronómico del camote (Ipomoea batatas L.) variedad Toquecita en la Estación INIAP, Portoviejo.

Abstract

This research addresses the impact of pre and post-emergent herbicides on sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) cultivation, INIAP-Toquecita variety, aiming to optimize its production at INIAP's Portoviejo Experimental Station. This study arises from the need to effectively control weeds that can reduce crop yield by up to 90%, significantly affecting agricultural production in the Manabí region. A randomized complete block experimental design was implemented with twelve treatments and three replications, evaluating different combinations of herbicides such as Pendimethalin, Terbutryn, S-Metolachlor, Haloxyfop-(R)-Methyl Ester, and Clethodim. The trial analyzed variables such as establishment, vigor, number of guides per plant, mother guide length, and commercial root yield, complemented by an economic analysis following CIMMYT methodology. Results revealed that treatment 7 (combination of Pendimethalin, Terbutryn, and Haloxyfop-R-methyl ester) achieved the highest yield with 20,770 kg/ha and the best net benefit of USD 8,562.15, demonstrating the effectiveness of combining pre and post-emergent herbicides for weed control without negatively affecting crop development. The study showed that combined pre and post-emergent herbicide treatments exhibited greater efficacy than individual applications, providing effective control of problematic species such as Galium sp., Eleusine indica, and Echinochloa colona. This research significantly contributes to the development of more efficient and economically viable integrated weed management strategies for farmers in Manabí province.