Effective Long-Term Strategies for Reducing Cyperus esculentus Tuber Banks

Jeroen Feys (), Fien Wallays, Danny Callens, Joos Latré, Gert Van de Ven, Shana Clercx, Sander Palmans, Pieter Vermeir, Dirk Reheul and Benny De Cauwer
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Jeroen Feys: Department of Plants & Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
Fien Wallays: Department of Plants & Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
Danny Callens: Research and Advice Centre for Agriculture and Horticulture (INAGRO VZW), 8800 Roeselare, Belgium
Joos Latré: Research Station HoGent-UGent, University College Ghent, 9820 Bottelare, Belgium
Gert Van de Ven: Experimental Farm Hooibeekhoeve, 2440 Geel, Belgium
Shana Clercx: Educational Research Center (PVL), 3950 Bocholt, Belgium
Sander Palmans: Educational Research Center (PVL), 3950 Bocholt, Belgium
Pieter Vermeir: Laboratory for Chemical Analysis (LCA), Department of Green Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
Dirk Reheul: Department of Plants & Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
Benny De Cauwer: Department of Plants & Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 19, 1-21

Abstract: Cyperus esculentus is a very destructive perennial weed, rapidly propagating and spreading through large amounts of daughter tubers. Successful control relies on depleting the soil tuber bank. This study investigated the effect of different control measures, applied across several cropping systems, on tuber bank dynamics over time. Therefore, 52 infested fields were monitored over 3 consecutive years, with annual quantification of the C. esculentus tuber bank. In maize monocropping systems, substantial 3-year tuber bank reductions (>90%) are achievable with preplant incorporation of dimethenamid-P or S-metolachlor, followed by a post-emergence application of mesotrione and pyridate at the 4–5 leaf stage, combined with delayed sowing (after 20 May) or mechanical measures (e.g., hoeing, harrowing). On non-maize fields, effective strategies (median tuber bank reductions of 57–70%) include intensive black fallow with at least four control timings or winter cereal cropping followed by intensive control (at least three measures) during the stubble phase. Established, fertilized grasslands also offer moderate reductions (17–67%) via intensive grazing or mowing. These results demonstrate that significant C. esculentus reductions are possible across different crops, but control remains challenging, requiring intensive, repeated strategies over multiple years. Less intensive approaches may undermine previous efforts.

Keywords: integrated weed management; curative control; tuber bank dynamics; long-term strategies; black fallowing; maize monocropping (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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