Theses and Dissertations

Issuing Body

Mississippi State University

Advisor

Tseng, Te-ming

Committee Member

Avila, Luis

Committee Member

Harvey, Lorin

Committee Member

Cutulle, Matthew

Date of Degree

8-7-2025

Original embargo terms

Visible MSU Only 1 year

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Campus Access Only

Major

Plant and Soil Sciences

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Department

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Abstract

Yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus L.) is a persistent weed in sweetpotato and vegetable cropping systems caused by its aggressive growth habit and limited control options. The present study assessed two alternative, chemical-free methods: steaming the soil and the use of allelopathic cover crops. Greenhouse and field experiments showed that steaming suppressed the germination of yellow nutsedge effectively and that treatments for 45 min provided the highest control of all the soil depths tested (100%). A leachate experiment examined the allelopathy of five cover crops against yellow nutsedge and showed that buckwheat and cereal rye had the largest reductions in shoot and root biomass. The research showed that the performance of the allelopathic potential depended on species of cover crops, whereas the effectiveness of the steaming depended on steam duration and soil depth. The research highlights the potential benefits of the use of soil steaming and allelopathic cover crops with sustainable weed management, especially for organic and conservation and reduced herbicide use practices that seek alternatives to the use of synthetic herbicides.

Sponsorship (Optional)

Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station (MAFES) and United States Dept. of Agriculture (USDA)

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