Purple nutsedge biology and vegetable tolerance to EPTC

Abstract

Studies were conducted from 2007 to 2009 to establish the tolerance of vegetable crops to S-ethyl dipropylthiocarbamate (EPTC) and to evaluate temperature variation effect on purple nutsedge tubers. For the vegetable experiments, data evaluated included crop tolerance and weed control. EPTC was applied at three rates with two mulches; vegetables evaluated were pepper, tomato, eggplant, and watermelon. Vegetable crops had varying levels of sensitivity to EPTC. Experiments were conducted to determine the effect of diurnal temperature fluctuation on sprouting of purple nutsedge tubers. No significant differences were noted in cumulative sprouting between any of the temperature variations. Additional experiments were conducted to evaluate for genetically modified cotton resistance to glyphosate and glufosinate. Cotton cultivars were screened with varying schedules of glyphosate and glufosinate. Cotton was tolerant to all application schedules and weed control was dependant on schedule and herbicide resistance.