Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jn8rn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T01:19:52.808Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Suppression of Purple Nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus) with Polyethylene Film Mulch

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2017

David T. Patterson*
Affiliation:
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, 2199 South Rock Road, Ft. Pierce, FL 34945-3138

Abstract

In greenhouse experiments, translucent polyethylene film mulches reduced or eliminated purple nutsedge shoot emergence compared to a conventional, opaque, white/black polyethylene film mulch. The translucent mulches reduced purple nutsedge shoot biomass, tuber and rhizome number, and tuber biomass 85–99%. In a nonilluminated growth chamber, purple nutsedge shoots emerging from tubers readily penetrated translucent mulch as well as opaque mulch. Shoots emerging in pots illuminated by a mixture of fluorescent and incandescent lighting failed to penetrate translucent mulch but penetrated the opaque mulch. In field experiments, translucent mulches reduced emergence and growth of purple nutsedge 70–88% compared to opaque mulch. Numbers of viable tubers in the soil were reduced 65–76%. In greenhouse and field experiments, the translucent mulches elevated soil and air space temperatures 4–13 C compared to opaque mulch. However, in the growth chamber experiment, air space temperatures were not affected by mulch type, and soil temperatures were only 0.4–0.6 C higher under the translucent mulches. Results suggest that the suppression of nutsedge emergence and growth by translucent mulch cannot be attributed to solarization effects.

Type
Research
Copyright
Copyright © 1998 by the Weed Science Society of America 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Literature Cited

Aleixo, M. De, F.D. and Valio, I.F.M. 1976. Effect of light, temperature and endogenous growth regulators on the growth of buds of Cyperus rotundus L. tubers. Z. Pflanzenphysiol. 80:336347.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chellemi, D. O., Olson, S. M., Mitchell, D. J., Secker, I., and McSorley, R. 1997. Adaptation of soil solarization to the integrated management of soilborne pests of tomato under humid conditions. Phytopathology 87:250258.Google Scholar
Egley, G. H. 1983. Weed seed and seedling reductions by soil solarization with transparent polyethylene sheets. Weed Sci. 31:404409.Google Scholar
Gilreath, J. P., Jones, J. P., and Overman, A. J. 1994. Soil-borne pest control in mulched tomato with alternatives to methyl bromide. Proc. Florida State Hortic. Soc. 107:156159.Google Scholar
Henson, I. E. and Little, E.C.S. 1969. Penetration of polyethylene film by the shoots of Cyperus rotundus . PANS 15:6466.Google Scholar
Holm, L. G., Plucknett, D. L., Pancho, J. V., and Herberger, J. P. 1977. The World's Worst Weeds: Distribution and Biology. Honolulu, HI: University of Hawaii Press. pp. 824.Google Scholar
Leonard, O. A. and Hams, V. C. 1950. Gas used for eradication of nutgrass. Mississippi Farm Res. 13(32): 1, 4.Google Scholar
Loy, J. B. 1991. Solar infrared transmitting, PAR absorbing polyethylene mulch: Physical properties and crop response. Proc. Natl. Agric. Plastics Congr. 23:165173.Google Scholar
Majek, B. A. and Neary, P. E. 1991. Selective wavelength transmitting mulch for yellow nutsedge control. Brighton Crop Prot. Conf. Weeds 1991:263268.Google Scholar
Newhall, A. G. 1955. Disinfestation of soil by heat. Hooding and fumigation. Bot. Rev. 21:189250.Google Scholar
Rubin, B. and Benjamin, A. 1984. Solar healing of the soil: involvement of environmental factors in the weed control process. Weed Sci. 32:138142.Google Scholar
Salisbury, F. B. and Ross, C. 1969. Plant Physiology. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Company. 764 p.Google Scholar
Stoller, E. W. and Sweet, R. D. 1987. Biology and life cycle of purple and yellow nutsedges (Cyperus rotundus and C. esculentus). Weed Technol. 1:6673.Google Scholar
Swarbick, J. T. and Dominiak, B. C. 1973. Nutgrass (Cyperus rotundus) suppression with polyethylene film. Proc. Asian-Pacific Weed Sci. Soc. 4:195196.Google Scholar
USGAO. 1995. Pesticides. The phaseout of methyl bromide in the United States. Washington, DC: United States General Accounting Office, Resources, Community, and Economic Development Division Publ. B-261602. 41 p.Google Scholar
William, R. D. 1976. Purple nutsedge: tropical scourge. HortScience 11:357364.Google Scholar
William, R. D. and Warren, G. F. 1975. Competition between purple nutsedge and vegetables. Weed Sci. 23:317323.Google Scholar
Wills, G. D. 1987. Description of purple and yellow nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus and C. esculentus). Weed Technol. 1:29.Google Scholar