Evaluation of Crop Seed Powders as Amendments for Purple Nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus) Control Compared to the Traditional Herbicide, Roundup

Authors

Eric Taylor Betancourt, Florida International UniversityFollow

Document Type

Thesis

Degree

Master of Science (MS)

Major/Program

Environmental Studies

First Advisor's Name

Krishnaswamy Jayachandran

First Advisor's Committee Title

Committee chair

Second Advisor's Name

Kateel Shetty

Second Advisor's Committee Title

Committee member

Third Advisor's Name

DeEtta Mills

Third Advisor's Committee Title

Committee member

Keywords

Allelopathy, Glyphosate, Roundup, Watercress, Turnip, Yellow mustard, Sunflower, Herbicide, Field, Potted

Date of Defense

6-19-2015

Abstract

Purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus) is a troublesome weed that outcompetes crops and contributes to poor yields. In the past, agriculturalists controlled purple nutsedge by fumigating soil with methyl bromide but the fumigant has since been classified as a controlled substance under the Montreal Protocol. This study evaluated the effectiveness of several alternative purple nutsedge control techniques and compared them with results obtained from the application of Roundup. Concentration treatment effects for the allelopathic seed powders of watercress and turnip were tested in a field trial while seed powders of yellow mustard and sunflower were tested in a potted trial. The allelopathic amendments significantly delayed weed emergence but several factors interfered with long-term effectiveness. Roundup was determined to be the most effective season-long weed control among the treatments consistently leaving the least amount of surviving weeds and underground organs.

Identifier

FIDC000065

Recommended Citation

Betancourt, Eric Taylor, "Evaluation of Crop Seed Powders as Amendments for Purple Nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus) Control Compared to the Traditional Herbicide, Roundup" (2015). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 2234.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/2234