Author
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Webster, Theodore |
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Submitted to: Ecological Society of America Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 4/1/2003 Publication Date: 9/1/2003 Citation: Webster, T.M. 2003. Polyethylene mulches suppress purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus) and yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus) growth [abstract]. Proceedings of the Ecological Society of America. 88:351. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Purple and yellow nutsedge are the most troublesome weeds of vegetable crops. Use of methyl bromide, the current standard, will be halted in 2005. Polyethylene mulches suppress many weeds, however nutsedge shoots readily pierce polyethylene mulch. The objective of this study was to evaluate nutsedge growth in polyethylene mulch systems. A single nutsedge tuber was grown in pots covered with black polyethylene, clear polyethylene, or no-mulch in greenhouse studies. Relative to no-mulch, yellow nutsedge shoots that pierced the black and clear polyethylene mulch were reduced 95% and 99%, respectively. Greater than 91% of yellow nutsedge shoots that emerged in mulch systems did not pierce the mulches (were trapped underneath). Purple nutsedge shoots emerged through clear mulch were reduced by 79% relative to the no-mulch. However, black polyethylene reduced purple nutsedge shoots that emerged through the mulch by only 29%, compared to no-mulch. Most (58% and 80%) emerged purple nutsedge shoots remained below black and clear polyethylene mulches, respectively. Successful nutsedge management must target tubers, the primary means of reproduction. In 16-weeks, yellow nutsedge in no-mulch produced 486 tubers, while tuber production was reduced 51% by both mulches. Purple nutsedge in no-mulch produced 223 tubers, while black and clear polyethylene mulches reduced tuber production 34 and 82%, respectively. Polyethylene mulch will be important for nutsedge management without methyl bromide. |
