EFFECTS OF PURPLE NUTSEDGE (CYPERUS-ROTUNDUS) ON TOMATO (LYCOPERSICON-ESCULENTUM) AND BELL PEPPER (CAPSICUM-ANNUUM) VEGETATIVE GROWTH AND FRUIT YIELD

Additive series experiments were conducted under greenhouse conditions to determine the effect of season-long interference of different init ial population densities of purple nutsedge on the shoot dry weight an d fruit yield of tomato and bell pepper. Purple nutsedge densities up to 200 plants/m(2) linearly reduced shoot dry weight at flowering and fruit yield of both crops as weed density increased. Both variables we re directly correlated, and for each percentage unit of tomato shoot d ry weight Loss at flowering, fruit yield was reduced 1.24 units, where as for bell pepper this relationship was 1 to 2.01. Total shoot and tu ber biomass of purple nutsedge increased as density increased. The pre sence of either crop caused a decline in the total shoot dry weight ac cumulation of purple nutsedge, with tomato producing a higher degree o f loss than bell pepper to the weed, Fruit yield losses due to purple nutsedge interference reached 44% for tomato and 32% for bell pepper.