Information about yellow nutsedge

Yellow Nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus L.)

FamilyFamily: Cyperaceae

Description and VariationDescription and Variation: A fibrous-rooted perennial, yellow nutsedge has erect, triangular, yellow-green stems that grow 12 to 32 inches tall. Yellow nutsedge grows from perennial tuber-bearing rootstocks; the tubers are approximately 2/5 to 4/5 of an inch long. The leaves are narrow and grass-like, growing in three vertical rows on the stem. Most of the leaves are clustered at the base of the stem. The small flowers are yellowish or yellowish-brown, and arranged in narrow spikelets on umbel-like inflorescences (groups of flowers originating from a single point). Located immediately below the inflorescence are three to nine inch long leaf-like structures (bracts). The flowers have three stamens and a three-cleft style. The yellowish-brown seeds are about 1/16 inch long and three-angled (Muenscher 1955; Hitchcock et al. 1969; Torrell et al. 1993).

Economic Importance: Negative - Yellow nutsedge is considered one of the world’s worst weeds (Bayer 1987; Holt 1987; Mulligan and Junkins 1976). Well-adapted to irrigated agriculture, yellow nutsedge is particularly problematic in row crops because it competes with crops for water, light, and nutrients, thereby reducing crop yield (Torrell et al. 1993; Mulligan and Junkins 1976). Yellow nutsedge has also been known to spoil the quality of some crops. In some areas, yellow nutsedge tubers have been known to grow into potato tubers causing them to be graded as culls. They may also pass through with shelled lima beans, requiring costly hand sorting (Mulligan and Junkins 1976). In addition, there has been some suggestion that this species may produce chemicals that are toxic to crops (Torrell et al. 1993).: Negative - Yellow nutsedge is considered one of the world’s worst weeds (Bayer 1987; Holt 1987; Mulligan and Junkins 1976). Well-adapted to irrigated agriculture, yellow nutsedge is particularly problematic in row crops because it competes with crops for water, light, and nutrients, thereby reducing crop yield (Torrell et al. 1993; Mulligan and Junkins 1976). Yellow nutsedge has also been known to spoil the quality of some crops. In some areas, yellow nutsedge tubers have been known to grow into potato tubers causing them to be graded as culls. They may also pass through with shelled lima beans, requiring costly hand sorting (Mulligan and Junkins 1976). In addition, there has been some suggestion that this species may produce chemicals that are toxic to crops (Torrell et al. 1993).

Positive Positive - Yellow nutsedge is closely related to chufa; some taxonomists yellow nutsedge tubers treat them as the same species (Mulligan and Junkins 1976). In parts of Africa, Europe, and Asia, chufa is grown for its edible tubers (Torrell et al. 1993). Chufa tubers are ground into flour, as well as being used to produce a cold drink (horchata de chufa), a coffee substitute, vegetable oil, and cellulose (Mulligan and Junkins 1976).

Geographic DistributionGeographic Distribution: Yellow nutsedge is found worldwide in warm and temperate zones (Holt 1987), occurring in southern Europe and Africa (including Madagascar). In the Western Hemisphere, it grows from southern Canada to northern Argentina. The plant is known from all 50 states (Mulligan and Junkins 1976).

HabitatHabitat: Yellow nutsedge generally occurs in disturbed habitats, but can tolerate a wide range of soil types. In natural habitats, the species grows along margins of lakes, rivers, streams, and marshes. These habitats are usually flooded in the spring, giving nutsedge little competition from other plants early in the growing season. Yellow nutsedge also occurs as a weed in cultivated fields, where it is associated with a variety of other weeds. Although yellow nutsedge appears to compete poorly with other weeds, it is resistant to many herbicides. Therefore, it often increases rapidly when other weeds are controlled by herbicides (Mulligan and Junkins 1976).

History: There is some discussion as to yellow nutsedge’s native range. It appears to be native in most of the contiguous United States, where it now occurs in both natural and weedy habitats (Rejmanek 1987). In Canada, it was found primarily in native habitats prior to 1950. Over the last 40 years, yellow nutsedge has become weedy in cultivated fields. The spread of yellow nutsedge may correspond to the increased use of selective herbicides (Mulligan and Junkins 1976).: There is some discussion as to yellow nutsedge’s native range. It appears to be native in most of the contiguous United States, where it now occurs in both natural and weedy habitats (Rejmanek 1987). In Canada, it was found primarily in native habitats prior to 1950. Over the last 40 years, yellow nutsedge has become weedy in cultivated fields. The spread of yellow nutsedge may correspond to the increased use of selective herbicides (Mulligan and Junkins 1976).

Growth and DevelopmentGrowth and Development: Yellow nutsedge is a fibrous-rooted perennial (Muenscher 1955). Under certain conditions, the plant forms tubers in the summer and autumn. The tubers, which are formed at the apical ends of indeterminate rhizomes, usually sprout the spring after they are formed. The tubers generally produce one to three sprouts (determinate rhizomes), which grow toward the soil surface and form a primary basal bulb just below the surface. Each primary basal bulb produces a vegetative plant. The basal bulb produced by the original tuber has many fibrous roots and indeterminate rhizomes; the indeterminate rhizomes may then develop into secondary basal bulbs and tubers. When a critical day length or temperature is reached, plants stop growing vegetatively and start to flower. However, many populations do not produce viable seed. Tubers are the only part of the plant that overwinter. Winter conditions kill basal bulbs, rhizomes, fibrous roots, and all aboveground parts. While tubers may be viable up to 3.5 years, most only survive one winter (Mulligan and Junkins (1976).

ReproductionReproduction: Yellow nutsedge does produce seed. However, reproduction by seed is of minimal importance in most areas in comparison to vegetative spread (Holt 1987; Lapham and Drennan 1990; Mulligan and Junkins 1976). The species spreads primarily by tubers, rhizomes, and corm-like basal bulbs (Torrell et al. 1993).

Response to Herbicides: Yellow nutsedge control with herbicides is difficult because herbicide translocation is complicated by source-sink relationships within and between dormant tubers and germinating tubers and the shoot or growing plant. Most herbicides used affect only the shoots and/or roots and do not kill the tubers (Bayer 1987).

Since tubers can have up to seven viable buds, if a control treatment kills one of them, the tuber can develop another. Therefore, effective herbicide treatments must outlast the tubers’ ability to resprout - i.e. the chemical must remain active for 10 to 12 weeks (Lanini 1987).

Atrazine, bromacil, bentazon, amitrole, oxyfluorfen, glyphosate, EPTC, alachlor, metolachlor, terbacil, pebulate, and MSMA have all been used with varying results on yellow nutsedge. These herbicides generally work best when used in conjunction with other yellow nutsedge control measures (Lanini 1987). Manage® , a newly introduced product, may have potential for nutsedge control (Yoder, pers. comm.), but no detailed information is available at this time.

Response to Cultural MethodsResponse to Cultural Methods: Tillage at four week intervals will deplete the energy reserves of tubers. However, cultivation alone takes at least two years to eliminate yellow nutsedge (Lanini 1987). Cultivation should be carried out throughout the growing season, as long as tubers are sprouting. This strategy will ensure that no new tubers are formed. Fall cultivation, when tubers are dormant, is not an effective control method (Mulligan and Junkins 1976).

Crop competition can also be used effectively. Crops, such as small grains or alfalfa, outcompete yellow nutsedge by forming dense canopies before yellow nutsedge has a chance to get established. Use of fast growing crops, high planting densities, and closely spaced rows all help in control (Lanini 1987).

Biocontrol PotentialsBiocontrol Potentials: The use of a biocontrol fungus is being investigated (Torrell et al. 1993).

ReferencesReferences:

Addy, E.O. and E. Eteshola. 1984. Nutritive value of a mixture of tigernut tubers (Cyperus esculentus L.) and baobab seeds (Adansonia digitata L.) Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 35: 437-440.

Ahrens, J.F. 1980. Control of yellow nutsedge in woody ornamentals. Proceedings of the Northeast Weed Science Society 34: 324-329.

*Anonymous. 1981. Weeds of the North Central States. North Central Regional Research Publication No. 281. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL.

*Armstrong, T.F. 1975. The problem: Yellow nutsedge. Proceedings of the North Central Weed Control Conference 30: 120-121.

Banks, P.A. Yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus) control, regrowth, and tuber production as affected by herbicides. Weed Science 31: 148-152.

*Bayer, D.E. 1987. Tuber dormancy, germination, apical dominance, and translocation in yellow and purple nutsedge. Proceedings of the California Weed Conference 39:90-92.

*Bendixen, L.E. and U.B. Nandihalli. 1987. Worlwide distribution of purple and yellow nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus and C. esculentus). Weed Technology 1: 61-65.

Canal, M.J., R.S. Tames, and B. Fernandez. 1988. Peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase activites in Cyperus esculentus leaves following glyphosate applications. Physiologia Plantarum 74: 125-130.

Canal, M.J., R.S. Tames, and b. Fernandez. 1987. Effects of glyphosate on phenolic metabolism in yellow nutsedge leaves. Physiologia Plantarum 69: 627-632.

Cornelius, A.J., W.F. Meggitt, and D. Penner. 1985. Activity of acetanilide herbicides on yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus). Weed Science 33: 721-723.

*Derr, J.F. and J.W. Wilcut. 1993. Control of yellow and purple nutsedges (Cyperus esculentus and C. rotundus) in nursery crops. Weed Technology 7: 112-117.

Derr, J.F and B.L. Appleton. 1989. Weed control with landscape fabrics. Journal of Environmental Horticulture 7: 129-133.

*deVries, F.T. 1991. Chufa (Cyperus esculentus, Cyperaceae): A weed cultivar or a cultivated weed? Economic Botany 45:27-37.

*Glaze, N.C. 1987. Cultural and mechanical manipulation of Cyperus spp. Weed Technology 1: 82-83.

*Hickman, J.C., ed. 1993. The Jepson Manual: Higher Plants of California. University of California Press, Berkeley.

*Hitchcock, C.L., A. Cronquist, and M. Ownbey. 1969. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. Part 1: Vascular Cryptogams, Gymnosperms, and Monocotyledons. University of Washington Press, Seattle.

*Holt, J.S. 1992. Phenotypic variation in yellow nutsedge. Western Society of Weed Science Proceedings 45: 118-119.

*Holt, J.S. 1987. Yellow and purple nutsedge: California distribution, biotypes, and seed production. Proceedings of the California Weed Conference 39:87-89.

Horak, M.J. and J.S. Holt. 1986. Isozyme variability and breeding systems in populations of yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus). Weed Science 34: 538-543.

*Horak, M.J., J.S. Holt, and N.C. Ellstrand. 1987. Genetic variation in yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus). Weed Science 35: 506-512.

*Jackson, N.E. 1992. A new herbicide for control of purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus) and yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus) in turfgrass. Western Society of Weed Science Proceedings 45: 79.

*Keeley, P.E. 1987. Interference and interaction of purple and yellow nutsedges (Cyperus rotundus and C. esculentus) with crops. Weed Technology 1: 74-81.

*Keeley, P.E., C.H. Carter, and R.J. Thullen. 1986. Influence of glyphosate on resprouting of parent tubers of Cyperus esculentus. Weed Science 34: 25-29.

Keeley, P.E., R.J. Thullen, and J.H. Miller. 1983. Comparison of six cropping systems for yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus) control. Weed Science 31: 63-67.

*Lanini, W.T. 1987. Yellow nutsedge control strategies. Proceedings of the California Weed Conference 39:93-95.

*Lapham, J. 1987. Population dynamics and competitive effects of Cyperus esculentus (yellow nutsedge) - prediction of cost-effective control strategies. Proceedings of the British Crop Protection Conference on Weeds 3: 1043-1050.

Lapham, J. 1985. Unrestricted growth, tuber formation and spread of Cyperus esculentus L. in Zimbabwe. Weed Research 25: 323-329.

*Lapham, J. and D.S.H. Drennan. 1990. The fate of yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus) seed and seedlings in soil. Weed Science 38: 125-128.

Lapham, J. and D.S.H. Drennan. 1987. Cyperus esculentus. Journal of Applied Ecology 24: 1011-1024.

*Muenscher, W.C. 1955. Weeds, 2nd ed. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY.

*Mulligan, G.A. and B.E. Junkins. 1976. The biology of Canadian weeds. 17. Cyperus esculentus L. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 56:339-350.

Nandihalli, U.B. and L.E. Bendixen. 1988. Absorption, translocation, and toxicity of foliar-applied imazaquin in yellow and purple nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus and C. rotundus). Weed Science 36: 313-317.

*Negbi, M. 1992. A sweetmeat plant, a perfume plant and their weedy relatives: a chapter in the history of Cyperus esculentus L. and C. rotundus L. Economic Botany 46: 64-71.

Pereira, W. and G. Crabtree. 1986. Absorption, translocation, and toxicity of glyphosate and oxyfluorfen in yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus). Weed Science 34: 923-929.

*Pereira, W., G. Crabtree, and R.D. William. 1987. Herbicide action on pruple and yellow nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus and C. esculentus). Weed Technology 1: 92-98.

Phatak, S.C. 1987. Biological control of nutsedges. Proceedings of the Beltwide Cotton Production Research Conference, pp. 354-356.

Phatak, S.C., M.B. Callaway, and C.S. Vavrina. 1987. Biological control and its integration in weed management systems for purple an dyellow nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus and C. esculentus). Weed Technology 1: 84-91.

Reddy, K.N. and L.E. Bendixen. 1988. Toxicity, absorption, translocation, and metabolism of foliar-applied chlorimuron in yellow and purple nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus and Cyperus rotundus). Weed Science 36: 707-712.

*Rejmanek, M. 1987. Systematics and distribution of California Cyperus weedy species. Proceedings of the California Weed Conference 39: 83-86.

*Stoller, E.W. 1975. Growth, development, and physiology of yellow nutsedge. Proceedings of the North Central Weed Control Conference 30: 124-125.

*Stoller, E.W. and R.D. Sweet. 1987. Biology and life cycle of purple and yellow nutsedges (Cyperus rotundus and C. esculentus). Weed Technology 1: 66-73.

*Sweet, R.D. 1975. Control of nutsedge in horticultural crops. Proceedings of the North Central Weed Control Conference 30: 129-132.

Thullen, R.J. and P.E. Keeley. 1987. Influence of date of planting on the growth of yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus). Weed Science 35: 173-176.

*Thullen, R.J. and P.E. Keeley. 1979. Seed production and germination in Cyperus esculentus and C. rotundus. Weed Science 27:502-505.

*Torrell, J.M., M.K. Thornton, and D.W. Morishita. 1993. Yellow nutsedge. Extension Bulletin PNW 452.

Villanueva, M.J.C., B.F. Muniz, and R.S. Tames. 1985. Effects of glyphosate on growth and the chlorophyll and cartenoid levels of yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus). Weed Science 33: 751-754.

*Wax, L.M. 1975. Control of yellow nutsedge in field crops. Proceedings of the North Central Weed Control Conference 30: 125-128.

*Wilcut, J.W., C.H. Gilliam, G.R. Wehje, T.V. Hicks, and D.L. Berchielli. 1991. Yellow nutsedge control in landscape plants. HortScience 26: 159-162.

*William, R.D. 1985. Control of yellow nutsedge in nurseries. Ornamentals Northwest Newsletter 9: 4-6.

*William, R.D. and L.E. Bendixen. 1987. Year-round management of yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus): An Extension worker’s summary. Weed Technology 1: 99-100.

Wills, G.D. 1987. Biology of purple and yellow nutsedge. Proceedings of the Beltwide Cotton Production Research Conference, pp. 352-354.

*Wills, G.D. 1987. Description of purple and yellow nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus and C. esculentus). Weed Technology 1: 2-9.

*Wills, G.D. 1975. Taxonomy, morphology, anatomy, and composition of yellow nutsedge. Proceedings of the North Central Weed Control Conference 30: 121-124.

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