Control of Nutsedge with Organic Arsenical Herbicides

Abstract

Nonradioactive and14C-labeled arsenical herbicides were applied to foliage of purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundusL.) and yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentusL.) grown under greenhouse and growth chamber conditions. Disodium methanearsonate (DSMA) controlled purple nutsedge better at 20 and 29 C than at 13 C. Monosodium methanearsonate (MSMA) was as effective in controlling this weed at 13 C as at 20 and 29 C. DSMA and MSMA provided 80% or greater control of yellow nutsedge grown at the three temperatures. When plants were treated with14C-DSMA and14C-MSMA, greater radioactivity was detected in yellow nutsedge than in purple nutsedge. The apparent differential herbicide penetration of purple and yellow nutsedge leaves is believed to have contributed substantially to the control of nutsedge observed in this study.