Propagules of Purple Nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus) in Soil

The upper 30 cm of soil in a field infested with purple nutsedge ( Cyperus rotundus L. # 3 CYPRO) contained 4900 to 5100 corms and tubers/m 2 6 weeks after soil rotovation and irrigation. The upper 4, 8, 12 and 16 cm of soil had 45, 79, 95 and 99%, respectively, of the corms and tubers. Lower depths of soil contained larger tubers with higher percent dry matter than the shallow depths. Of the total number of corms and tubers, 51% were from the parent population. At 6 weeks, only 15% of the total tuber and corm population were not connected to aerial parts. Tubers from the parent population had a higher fresh weight than those from the new population. Parent tubers occurred singly or in chains of up to eight tubers.