Abstract
A study was conducted in Citra, Florida, to determine the response of bell pepper to selected purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundusL.) densities and times of emergence after crop transplanting. Purple nutsedge densities of 0, 20, 40, 60, and 80 plants per m were planted on bell pepper beds at 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 11 weeks after transplanting the crop, and grew with the crop until the end of the season (11 weeks after transplanting the crop). Bell pepper yield decreased as purple nutsedge density increased and as nutsedge emerged earlier in the season. Total marketable yield loss was approximately 30, 45, 60, and 70% when purple nutsedge interfered with bell pepper season-long at the initial densities of 20, 40, 60, and 80 plants per m, respectively. A 5% pepper yield loss would be prevented if purple nutsedge emergence at densities 80 plants per m were suppressed during the first 6 weeks after transplanting the crop.
