Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 June 2017
Five thiocarbamate herbicides, butylate (S-ethyl diisobutylthiocarbamate), EPTC (S-ethyl dipropylthiocarbamate), molinate (S-ethyl-hexahydro-1H-azepine-1-carbothioate), pebulate (S-propyl butylethyl-thiocarbamate), and vernolate (S-propyl dipropylthiocarbamate) were used in the greenhouse at doses of 0.5 to 5 kg/ha incorporated 6 cm deep in a silt loam. Purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L.) tubers were planted 5 cm deep. Three and 9 weeks after treatments were applied, nutsedge plants were harvested. EPTC also was used at doses of 0.25 to 10 kg/ha and plants were harvested every 2 days up to 20 days and every 3 weeks up to 24 weeks. The most effective reduction in the number of sprouts above ground was given by butylate, EPTC, and vernolate followed by pebulate and molinate. Persistence was directly related to level of initial activity. No effect was observed on the number of tubers which sprouted. However, all the thiocarbamates stimulated the number of sprouts produced per nondormant tuber. These sprouts were abnormal and did not reach the soil surface. Treated tubers produced approximately twice as many sprouts as controls. The number of rhizomes produced from the basal bulb was reduced with all the thiocarbamates used, even 24 weeks after treatment for the higher doses.