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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Pierce, Florida » U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory » Subtropical Plant Pathology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #222748
Title: Evaluation of organic and plastic mulches for purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus)suppression in a sustainable watermelon production system in Puerto Rico

Author
item MORALES-PAYAN, J. PABLO - UNIV. OF PUERTO RICO
item MARQUEZ-MENDEZ, PEDRO - UNIV. OF PUERTO RICO
item Rosskopf, Erin
item SHABANA, YASSER - UNIV. OF FLORIDA, IFAS
item CHARUDATTAN, RAGHAVAN - UNIV. OF FLORIDA, IFAS
item KLASSEN, WALDEMAR - UNIV. OF FLORIDA, IFAS

Submitted to: Florida Weed Science Society Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/11/2011
Publication Date: 2/25/2008
Citation: Morales-Payan, J., Marquez-Mendez, P., Rosskopf, E.N., Shabana, Y., Charudattan, R., Klassen, W. 2008. Evaluation of organic and plastic mulches for purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus)suppression in a sustainable watermelon production system in Puerto Rico . Florida Weed Science Society Proceedings.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: An experiment was conducted in Isabela, Puerto Rico, to determine the efficacy of eight organic mulches (dry shoots of millet, purple nutsedge, sunnhemp, sorghum, cowpea, cogongrass, bahiagrass, and rye) and two plastic mulches (black and IRT) to suppress purple nutsedge growth on the soil beds in a sustainable 'Crimson Sweet' watermelon production system. The mulches were laid individually, covering the top of the soil beds the same day as the watermelon was transplanted. Natural populations of purple nutsedge were used (approximately 10 viable tubers per foot square). Nutsedge plants emerging on the bare-soil beds or through the mulches were allowed to grow unchecked for the remainder of the crop season. Both plastic mulches consistently reduced nutsedge emergence and growth more than the organic mulches, but also reduced watermelon growth (probably due to highly increased soil bed temperatures as compared to soil beds covered with organic mulches). Among the organic mulches, the best suppressive effect on purple nutsedge was found when using congongrass, nutsedge, or sorghum straw. Sunnhemp, cowpea and rye provided the least purple nutsedge suppression.