EFEITO CARRYOVER DA COMBINAÇÃO DE ATRAZINA + MESOTRIONA NA CULTURA DO TOMATE INDUSTRIAL (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

Abstract

Industrial tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is one of the most widely cultivated vegetable crops in Brazil, presenting several varieties and requiring careful management. Crop succession and rotation are important practices for agricultural management. However, the frequent use of herbicides, mainly in soybean and corn systems, can generate soil residues. Tomatoes have been cultivated in the same area previously used for sweet corn. The herbicide Calaris®, a formulated mixture of [atrazine + mesotrione], has emerged as a new option for weed management in corn. However, the use of this herbicide may cause a carryover effect in the soil, impairing the development and productivity of industrial tomato crops.This experiment, conducted in Morrinhos, Goiás, aimed to evaluate the carryover effect of the atrazine + mesotrione combination on tomato cultivation. Five treatments were tested: T1 (0.3 L ha⁻¹), T2 (0.6 L ha⁻¹), T3 (1.2 L ha⁻¹), T4 (2.4 L ha⁻¹), and T5 (0.0 L ha⁻¹), distributed in 5 experimental plots with three replications, in strips. The plots measured 27 m², and herbicide application was performed using a CO₂-pressurized backpack sprayer, maintaining constant pressure. Variables evaluated included visual phytotoxicity, yield, and post-harvest analyses: pH and °Brix.Treatment 4 (2.4 L ha⁻¹) showed high phytotoxicity based on visual assessment at 14, 28, and 42 DAT. The increase in crop injury was associated with the increase in product dosage. Yield was, on average, 30% lower in treatments T1 (0.3 L ha⁻¹), T2 (0.6 L ha⁻¹), and T3 (1.2 L ha⁻¹), compared with the control. In T4, yield was reduced by 60%, indicating that up to a certain application level, Calaris® has little effect on productivity, but at higher doses, the negative impact becomes significant. Regarding pH and °Brix, the treatments did not differ, and fruits showed good quality. These results confirm the carryover effect of the atrazine + mesotrione association in industrial tomato.