Comparison of Four Cropping Systems for Yellow Nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus) Control

Abstract

Four cropping systems were evaluated from 1975 to 1977 for the control of yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentusL.). Crops grown in 1975 and 1976 included alfalfa (Medicago sativaL. ‘Elcamino WL-600′), barley(Hordeum vulgareL. ‘CM-67′), corn (Zea maysL. ‘Dekalb T214′), and cotton (Gossypium hirsutumL. ‘Acala SJ-2′). Herbicides used included butylate (S-ethyl diisobutylthiocarbamate) in corn, EPTC (S-ethyl dipropylthiocarbamate) in alfalfa, glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine] in fallow plots, and MSMA (monosodium methanearsonate) in cotton. Cotton, which was grown continuously as one of the four cropping systems, was the only crop grown in 1977. Based on weed counts, crop yields, and the consistent decline in the number of tubers, all cropping systems provided substantial control of yellow nutsedge each year. Two years of either alfalfa treated with EPTC or double cropping barley with corn treated with butylate preceeding cotton reduced the number of viable yellow nutsedge tubers by 96%. Two years of chemically fallowing plots with glyphosate following barley and preceeding cotton was 98% effective in reducing viable tubers. Treating continuous cotton with MSMA, although somewhat inferior to the above systems, reduced the number of viable nutsedge tubers by 91% in 3 yr.