Evaluation of equipment and methods for herbicide application in coffee cultivation Evaluación de equipos y métodos de aplicación de herbicidas en el cultivo del café

To evaluate herbicide application techniques on coffee, a study was carried out in two phases: 1. Weed control efficacy was evaluated by weed coverage 21, 35 and 60 days after application; 2. Application efficiency, expressed in time and volume applied, was evaluated. Glyphosate was used in one-year-old coffee crops. Stage 1 was conducted at the Naranjal-Caldas and Paraguaicito-Quindío Experiment Stations, evaluating different equipment: Electric Centrifugal Sprayer (EPC), Electric Pump Sprayer (EBE), and Manual Pump Sprayer (EBM), the latter with pressure regulator (CFV) of 0.145 and 0.099 MPa, AI nozzle, and without regulator (control), under a randomized complete block design with 12 repetitions. Stage 2 was conducted at the Naranjal and La Trinidad- Tolima Stations, evaluating: 1=EPC, 2=EBE, 3=EBM with CFV of 0.145 MPa, 4=weed selector equipment (ESA) with wheels, 5=ESA, and 6=EBM without regulator (control), with 12 repetitions in 0.2 ha plots. In stage 1, there were no differences in weed coverage. The application volume was higher with AI nozzle (389 and 280 L ha-1) compared to the control that used between 300 and 200 L ha-1. In stage 2, the application time was similar; the use of CFV at 0.145 MPa was consistent with calibration, while both ESA presented application volumes of 15 to 20 L ha-1 and better weed coverage.