The Use of Herbicide Safener Increases the Selectivity of Nicosulfuron to Maize Crops

The herbicide nicosulfuron is an important tool for weed control in maize crops; however, its incorrect use can cause yield losses to crops due to its high toxicity. The objective of this work was to evaluate the efficiency of using herbicide safener to increase selectivity of nicosulfuron to maize crops. The experiment was conducted in field conditions, and the treatments consisted of dose-response curves, using nicosulfuron at rates of 0, 15, 30, 45, and 60 g ha-1, applied with safener and/or malathion to maize crops at the V5-V6 stage. The use of organophosphorus insecticides such as malathion decrease the selectivity of nicosulfuron to maize crops. Rates of up to 60 g ha-1 were selective to the maize crops when using nicosulfuron or nicosulfuron + safener. However, plant height decreased 0.19 and 0.91 cm for each gram of nicosulfuron in the treatments nicosulfuron + safener + malathion, and nicosulfuron + malathion, respectively, at 28 days after the application. The phytotoxicity increased 0.19% and 0.97% in the treatments nicosulfuron + safener + malathion and nicosulfuron + malathion, respectively. The number of grains per row and grain yield were affected by the treatments with nicosulfuron + malathion, presenting decreases of 0.09 grains and 52 kg ha-1, respectively. Thus, adding safener to the herbicide mixture increases the selectivity of nicosulfuron to maize crops, decreases damages regarding plant height and phytotoxicity, and prevents effects of the herbicide on the number of grains per row and grain yield, up to the rate of 60 g ha-1.