A series of greenhouse studies examined the effectiveness of PRE- and POST-applied sulfentrazone in controlling purple and yellow nutsedge as influenced by selective tissue exposure. In addition, 14C-sulfentrazone was utilized to contrast absorption and translocation resulting from these exposures. Consistent control with preemergence applications to germinating tubers was obtained with a combined root and shoot zone exposure. Yellow nutsedge was more susceptible than purple nutsedge. Performance of the separate root and shoot zone exposure was soil pH- and nutsedge-species dependent. POST-foliar applications to established nutsedge were more effective when sulfentrazone was allowed to contact the soil surface. 14C-sulfentrazone was readily absorbed by the roots and translocated to the foliage of both species in hydroponic culture.

Greenhouse studies were conducted to determine purple and yellow nutsedge response to selective placement of a 5-cm layer of pyrithiobac sodium-treated soil above, below, or above and below nutsedge tubers. Pyrithiobac sodium at 36 or 72 g ae ha−1 applied postemergence as foliar, soil, or foliar and soil treatments also was evaluated. Pyrithiobac sodium applied above, below, or above and below nutsedge tubers reduced yellow and purple nutsedge shoot number, shoot regrowth, and root-tuber dry weight at least 90%. Foliar-only treatment of pyrithiobac sodium was less effective at reducing emerged purple and yellow nutsedge numbers than application to soil only or to foliage and soil. Best reduction in yellow and purple nutsedge growth with pyrithiobac sodium was obtained with soil-incorporated treatments.

Greenhouse studies were conducted to determine the response of purple and yellow nutsedges to selective soil placement of 5 cm of soil treated with imazethapyr above and/or below the nutsedge tubers. Early postemergence (EPOST) or postemergence (POST) imazethapyr treatments at 71 g ai/ha as a foliar, soil, or foliar + soil application was also evaluated. Imazethapyr placement above or below the nutsedge tuber generally increased shoot number, shoot dry weight (SW), shoot regrowth dry weight (SRW), and root tuber dry weight (RTW) production in both species, 28 and 42 days after treatment (DAT) compared with the control. However, the 5-cm above + 5-cm below tuber treatment at 14, 28, and 42 DAT reduced purple nutsedge shoot number, SW, SRW, and RTW to 19, 7, 14, and 26% of the control, respectively. Yellow nutsedge shoot number was 103% of the control with the 5-cm above + 5-cm below tuber treatment 42 DAT. The 5-cm above + 5-cm below tuber treatment reduced yellow nutsedge SW, SRW, and RTW to 43, 44, and 23% of the control, respectively, 28 and 42 DAT. EPOST and POST foliar + soil and soil-only applications reduced SW 28 d after treatment (DAT) to 13% or less of the control for both species. SRWs of both species were ≤ 53% of the control 42 DAT for the soil-only application. The foliar-only treatment was the least effective in SW, SRW, and RTW reductions.

Greenhouse studies were conducted to determine the response of purple and yellow nutsedge to selective soil placement of 5 cm of soil treated with MON-12037 above and/or below the nutsedge tubers. MON-12037 at 53 g/ai ha applied as a foliar, soil, or foliar + soil application also were evaluated. MON-12037 placement above, below, or above + below the nutsedge tuber decreased shoot number, shoot dry weight, shoot regrowth dry weight, and root-tuber dry weight production in both species, 30 and 60 d after treatment. MON-12037 applied as a foliar, soil, and foliar + soil treatment was effective in reducing purple nutsedge shoot regrowth dry weight to less than 5% of the non-treated control. Yellow nutsedge shoot regrowth dry weight from the foliar + soil and soil-only applications was less than 1% of the non-treated control.

Greenhouse studies were conducted to determine the response of purple and yellow nutsedge to selective placement of 5 cm of soil treated with AC 263,222 above and/or below nutsedge tubers. AC 263,222 applied early POST (EPOST) or POST at 71 g ai ha-1 as a foliar, soil, or foliar + soil application also was evaluated. AC 263,222 applied below nutsedge tubers did not reduce purple or yellow nutsedge shoot number, shoot dry weight, shoot regrowth dry weight, or root-tuber dry weight. However, when it was applied above purple nutsedge tubers, shoot dry weight was reduced; and when it was applied above yellow nutsedge tubers, shoot dry weight and root dry weight were reduced. AC 263,222 applied 5 cm above + 5 cm below purple nutsedge tubers reduced shoot number, shoot dry weight, shoot regrowth dry weight, and root dry weight to 9, 4, 10, and 16% of the control, respectively, in purple nutsedge and to 23, 16, 9, and 15% of the control, respectively, in yellow nutsedge. AC 263,222 applied EPOST or POST reduced shoot dry weight, shoot regrowth dry weight, and root dry weight of purple nutsedge to less than or equal to 11, 7, and 27% of the control, respectively, and to less than or equal to 10, 16, and 29% of the control, respectively, for yellow nutsedge with no differences between application methods. The foliar and soil activity of AC 263,222 for purple and yellow nutsedge control provides an advantage over currently registered peanut herbicides.