Even after years of studying and experimentation, purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus) is still a serious problem to sugarcane crop, demanding constant search for new management alternatives. Thus, this work aimed to determine a purple nutsedge management program for a highly infested sugarcane area, using isolated or sequential applications of MSMA, in two successive years. Thus, one trial was conducted twice in the same area from 1994 to 1996, i.e., comprising two successive agricultural years of sugarcane crop, variety SP 71-1406. Ten treatments were adopted considering isolated or sequential applications of MSMA over infestations of purple nutsedge, the dominant species in the area. After MSMA applications, height and treatment selectivity to sugarcane crop were evaluated, as well as height and percent control of purple nutsedge and number, fresh mass and viability of tubers. It was concluded that the herbicide MSMA had initial negative effects on height and selectivity to sugarcane crop, that decreased throughout the evaluations, and were not observed at the end of the experiment. Although isolated MSMA application provided efficient purple nutsedge control, reinfestation occurred. Sequential application, for the two highest rates, resulted in constant control level. The analysis of number, mass and viability of tubers is in agreement with the visual control data for area disinfestation.
chemical control; sugarcane ratoon; purple nutsedge; weeds
