EFFECT OF DIFFERENT HERBICIDES ON CONTROL OF PURPLE NUTSEDGE (Cyperus rotundus L.)

Purple nutsedge management with herbicides (halosulfuron, imazaquin, MSMA, S-metolachlor, andsulfentrazone) was investigated in a bare ground homogenous purple nutsedge field site. Sequential applications of halosulfuron, MSMA, and sulfentrazone provided at least 80% control of purple nutsedge shoots, whereas imazaquin sequential application controlled purple nutsedge shoots by68%. All herbicide treatments reduced purple nutsedge total and viable tuber densities at least 40%. S-metolachlor PRE reduced total and viable tuber densities by 65 and 69%, respectively. Sequential applications of sulfentrazone emerged as the top ranking treatment by reducing the total and viabletuber density to the tune of 85 and 89%, respectively. Sequential application of the herbicides tested offered a better control of purple nutsedge as compared to their single applications. Our data indicate that sulfentrazone PRE followed by EPOST applications will provide purple nutsedge shoot and tuber control, but additional research needs to be conducted to investigate sulfentrazone control of purple nutsedge in established turfgrass.