Effects of Water Delivery Volume, Rates and Concentrations of Metam Potassium on Purple Nutsedge Emergence in Mulched Beds

Abstract

Over the years, efficacy of metam potassium (MK) on purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus) control has been inconsistent, in many cases because of a lack of knowledge about application techniques. Therefore, field studies were conducted to determine the effect of water delivery volumes and flow rates on purple nutsedge control with MK, and the influence of MK rates and concentrations on purple nutsedge control. Three separate studies were established for 1) water application volumes and flow rates, 2) MK application rates and concentrations, and 3) MK concentration levels. For the water application volumes and flow rate trials, a single MK rate of 60 gal/acre was injected with either 1 or 2 acre-inch/acre (27,154 or 54,308 gal/acre) of water. The water flow rates were 0.30, 0.45, and 0.60 gal/100 ft of row per minute within each water volume. An nontreated control was included. In the application rate and concentrations studies, treatments were a nontreated control, 30 gal/acre applied with 0.5 acre-inch/acre of water (≈3000 ppm), 60 gal/acre applied with either 0.5 or 1 acre-inch/acre of water (≈6000 and 3000 ppm), 120 gal/acre applied with either 1 or 2 acre-inch/acre of water (≈6000 and 3000 ppm), and 240 gal/acre applied with 2 acre-inch/acre of water (≈6000 ppm). In the MK concentration trials, 0, 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000, and 6000 ppm were tested. Results indicated that neither water volumes nor flow rates used for MK application had a significant impact on purple nutsedge control at 10 weeks after treatment (WAT). However, there was a significant effect of the combinations of MK rates and water delivery volumes on purple nutsedge densities at 4 and 15 WAT. Similarly, MK concentrations obtained from a single application rate resulted in improved purple nutsedge control up to 10 WAT, reducing densities to less than 5 plants/ft2 with 6000 ppm of MK.