Effects of Shoot Clipping–Soil Disturbance Frequency and Tuber Size on Aboveground and Belowground Growth of Purple and Yellow Nutsedge (Cyperus rotundusandCyperus esculentus)

Abstract

Purple and yellow nutsedges are two of the world's worst weeds, reproducing asexually by rhizomes that can develop into new shoots or tubers. These tubers are the storage organs for carbohydrate reserves that are replenished by growing shoots and exhausted by new shoot, root plus rhizome, and basal bulb production. Based on the biology of both species, we hypothesized that the regenerative potential of purple and yellow nutsedge would decrease, with increasing shoot clipping–soil disturbance (SCSD) frequency and decreasing tuber size. To test this hypothesis, greenhouse experiments were conducted in pots to determine the effect of SCSD frequency and tuber size on aboveground and belowground growth of purple and yellow nutsedges. Five viable tubers of two tuber category sizes (small, 0.40 ± 0.05; and large, 0.80 ± 0.05 g of tuber fresh weight) were subjected to four SCSD frequencies (weekly, biweekly, monthly, and none) for 12 wk. SCSD was performed by clipping the emerged nutsedge shoots followed by manually disturbing the soil. SCSD at biweekly or weekly intervals reduced purple nutsedge proliferation, regardless of initial tuber size. However, monthly SCSD did not suppress purple nutsedge as effectively as weekly or biweekly SCSD, and less proliferation occurred with small tubers than with large tubers. In contrast, yellow nutsedge proliferation was equally reduced with monthly or more-frequent SCSD, regardless of initial tuber size. Even weekly soil disturbance for 12 wk failed to eradicate all small or large tubers in either species. Thus, yellow nutsedge is managed more easily than purple nutsedge with less-frequent tillage or cultivation. However, tillage or cultivation alone during a 12-wk period will not likely eradicate either nutsedge species from infested soil.