Author
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Webster, Theodore |
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Submitted to: Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings Publication Acceptance Date: 12/11/2007 Publication Date: 1/11/2008 Citation: Webster, T.M. 2008. Nutsedge emergence and mulch color [abstract]. Proceedings of the 2008 Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association Conference, January 10-13, 2008, Savannah, Georgia. p. 34. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Nutsedge species are among the most troublesome species in vegetables of the Southeast U.S. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of mulches on emergence of naturalized nutsedge populations. Studies were conducted in 2006 and 2007 near Chula, GA, in areas with purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus) and yellow nutsedge (C. esculentus). Mulches included: black low density polyethylene (LDPE), black-virtually impermeable film (VIF), white-LDPE, metalized-silver, metalized-black, metalized-silver with a center black stripe, gray-LDPE, metalized-white, and white-VIF. In 2006, the black-VIF and white-LDPE had at least twice as many nutsedge shoots compared to black-LDPE. All other tested mulches had similar nutsedge densities. In 2007, metalized-silver and gray-LDPE had two-times more nutsedge shoots than black-LDPE. There was an inverse linear relationship between temperature amplitudes in each of the mulches and nutsedge shoot population density in 2007, contrary to what was expected. The highest nutsedge populations were associated with the mulches with the greatest temperature amplitudes, while those with daily temperature amplitudes of less than 15 C between March 23 and May 30 had the greatest nutsedge shoot populations. Understanding the environmental factors that promote nutsedge emergence may allow growers to alter cultural practices to either suppress nutsedge emergence during the cropping season or promote nutsedge emergence prior to a control regime. |
