Viability of Cyperus rotundus L. tubers after application of herbicide in pre- and postemergence

ABSTRACT Chemical management is the most widely adopted technique to control weeds in sugarcane crops. Purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L.) is among the most difficult species to control. Herbicides need to be absorbed and translocated in a sufficient amount for the tuber chain to be effective. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the herbicides sulfentrazone, diclosulam, imazapic, imazapyr, halosulfuron, ethoxysulfuron, monosodium methyl arsenate (MSMA), and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) in controlling C. rotundus and reducing the viability of its tubers. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse in a completely randomized design, with nine treatments and four replications. The herbicides sulfentrazone (800 g active ingredient – ai·ha?1), diclosulam (193.17 g ai·ha?1), imazapic (133 g ai·ha?1), and imazapyr (500 g acid equivalent – ae·ha?1) were applied in preemergence at five days after planting the tubers, while halosulfuron (112.5 g ai·ha?1), ethoxysulfuron (135 g ai·ha?1), MSMA (1,975 g ai·ha?1), and 2,4-D (1,340 g ae·ha?1) were applied in postemergence (4 to 5 leaves). The parameters visual control, shoot dry matter, number of tubers and bulbs, weight of tubers + bulbs, number of epigeal manifestations, and tuber viability were analyzed. The herbicides diclosulam, halosulfuron, and ethoxysulfuron provided 100% control of the shoot at 90 days after application (DAA). All herbicides reduced the number of bulbs, weight of tubers + bulbs, and shoot dry matter. The herbicides sulfentrazone, imazapic, halosulfuron, ethoxysulfuron, and MSMA provided the highest reduction in tuber viability.