Nutgrass (Cyperus rotundus), also known as purple nutsedge, is found around the world in a wide range of soil types, fertilities and environmental conditions.
In New Zealand, nutgrass can be found in areas from Auckland to Nelson. Nutgrass is a problem weed in a number of crops in New Zealand including maize, asparagus, potatoes and onions.
Key points
- Nutgrass is a sedge with dark, shiny leaves. It is often mistaken for a grass weed.
- It has nut-like tubers which are spread on machinery.
- Nutgrass is difficult to control, so use good on-farm biosecurity to keep it off your property or out of clean paddocks.
- Halosulfuron-methyl (Sempra®) is the only herbicide registered to control nutgrass in maize.
- Repeat applications of Sempra® may be required to control nutgrass populations.