Kalanduru Cyperus rotundus

Common name - Hathawariya

Botanical name - Cyperus rotundus

Family         - Cyperaceae

Life cycle - Perennial

Morphology

• Cyperus rotundus (purple nutsedge) is a smooth, erect and perennial weed with an extensive subterranean tuber system
• It usually attains a height of about 30cm
• Purple nutsedge appears grass like, but its stems are triangular in cross-section. It has fibrous roots that branch prolifically, rhizomes, tubers, bulbs, and inflorescences that consist of irregular compound umbels.
• leaves are mostly basal and linear in shape with a prominent mid-rib 

Propagation 

• By Tubers

Agricultural usage/ importance 

• Used as a medicine for Worm diseases, Fever, Skin diseases, Epilepsy, Asthma.
• Serious weed in rice, sugarcane, cotton, maize and vegetable crops 
• It is an important weed in peanut, sorghum and soybean crops 
• Most troublesome weed in Pepper

Control method

• Glyphosate and paraquat are commonly used
• methyl bromide fumigation
• Making shallow tillage an effective tool in reducing nutsedge density. Tillage causes a breakup of tubers bringing them close to the soil surface where they are subjected to carbohydrate starvation
• Using Polyethylene mulch