Viability of <i>Cyperus esculentus</i> Seeds and Tubers After Ensiling, Digestion by Cattle, and Manure Storage

<i>Cyperus esculentus</i> is an invasive sedge causing high losses in many crops. Prevention is key in minimizing further spread and damage. Propagules (tubers or seeds) may spread via cattle manure. This study examined the effect of ensiling, digestion, and storage in manure on the viab...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jeroen Feys, Emiel Welvaert, Mattie De Meester, Joos Latré, Eva Wambacq, Danny Callens, Shana Clercx, Gert Van de Ven, Dirk Reheul, Benny De Cauwer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Agronomy
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/4/844
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850183725496664064
author Jeroen Feys
Emiel Welvaert
Mattie De Meester
Joos Latré
Eva Wambacq
Danny Callens
Shana Clercx
Gert Van de Ven
Dirk Reheul
Benny De Cauwer
author_facet Jeroen Feys
Emiel Welvaert
Mattie De Meester
Joos Latré
Eva Wambacq
Danny Callens
Shana Clercx
Gert Van de Ven
Dirk Reheul
Benny De Cauwer
author_sort Jeroen Feys
collection DOAJ
description <i>Cyperus esculentus</i> is an invasive sedge causing high losses in many crops. Prevention is key in minimizing further spread and damage. Propagules (tubers or seeds) may spread via cattle manure. This study examined the effect of ensiling, digestion, and storage in manure on the viability of <i>C. esculentus</i> propagules. Propagules were subjected to five durations (0–16 weeks) in silage maize, seven durations (0–48 h) of ruminal digestion, and five durations of storage (0–16 weeks) in manure (slurry or farmyard), or combinations of previous processes. Afterwards, the viabilities were determined by a germination and tetrazolium test. After 6 weeks in a maize silo, the viability of the propagules was reduced by at least 96%. Incubation for 36 h in the rumen, followed by post-ruminal digestion in vitro, reduced seed viability by 30%. However, for the tubers, no effect was observed. The viability of seeds and tubers was reduced by 90% after 11.5 and 13.7 weeks of incubation in slurry, respectively. Compared with seeds, tubers were less tolerant to 12–24 h of animal digestion, followed by 8 weeks of storage in slurry. Keeping a maize silo closed for at least 6 weeks and maintaining slurry storage for at least 16 weeks are excellent measures to eliminate <i>C. esculentus</i>. For farmers, these preventive measures are relatively easy and cheap to implement compared to the requirements of curative control methods.
format Article
id doaj-art-bc177bf71b7f4e8a9d7e33578b19b76f
institution OA Journals
issn 2073-4395
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Agronomy
spelling doaj-art-bc177bf71b7f4e8a9d7e33578b19b76f2025-08-20T02:17:14ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952025-03-0115484410.3390/agronomy15040844Viability of <i>Cyperus esculentus</i> Seeds and Tubers After Ensiling, Digestion by Cattle, and Manure StorageJeroen Feys0Emiel Welvaert1Mattie De Meester2Joos Latré3Eva Wambacq4Danny Callens5Shana Clercx6Gert Van de Ven7Dirk Reheul8Benny De Cauwer9Department of Plant & Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, BelgiumDepartment of Plant & Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, BelgiumDepartment of Plant & Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, BelgiumResearch Station HoGent-UGent, University College Ghent, 9820 Bottelare, BelgiumResearch Station HoGent-UGent, University College Ghent, 9820 Bottelare, BelgiumResearch and Advice Centre for Agriculture and Horticulture (INAGRO VZW), 8800 Rumbeke-Beitem, BelgiumEducational Research Center (PVL), 3950 Bocholt, BelgiumExperimental Farm Hooibeekhoeve, 2440 Geel, BelgiumDepartment of Plant & Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, BelgiumDepartment of Plant & Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium<i>Cyperus esculentus</i> is an invasive sedge causing high losses in many crops. Prevention is key in minimizing further spread and damage. Propagules (tubers or seeds) may spread via cattle manure. This study examined the effect of ensiling, digestion, and storage in manure on the viability of <i>C. esculentus</i> propagules. Propagules were subjected to five durations (0–16 weeks) in silage maize, seven durations (0–48 h) of ruminal digestion, and five durations of storage (0–16 weeks) in manure (slurry or farmyard), or combinations of previous processes. Afterwards, the viabilities were determined by a germination and tetrazolium test. After 6 weeks in a maize silo, the viability of the propagules was reduced by at least 96%. Incubation for 36 h in the rumen, followed by post-ruminal digestion in vitro, reduced seed viability by 30%. However, for the tubers, no effect was observed. The viability of seeds and tubers was reduced by 90% after 11.5 and 13.7 weeks of incubation in slurry, respectively. Compared with seeds, tubers were less tolerant to 12–24 h of animal digestion, followed by 8 weeks of storage in slurry. Keeping a maize silo closed for at least 6 weeks and maintaining slurry storage for at least 16 weeks are excellent measures to eliminate <i>C. esculentus</i>. For farmers, these preventive measures are relatively easy and cheap to implement compared to the requirements of curative control methods.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/4/844preventionintegrated weed managementrumenslurrymaize silagepropagule dispersal risk
spellingShingle Jeroen Feys
Emiel Welvaert
Mattie De Meester
Joos Latré
Eva Wambacq
Danny Callens
Shana Clercx
Gert Van de Ven
Dirk Reheul
Benny De Cauwer
Viability of <i>Cyperus esculentus</i> Seeds and Tubers After Ensiling, Digestion by Cattle, and Manure Storage
Agronomy
prevention
integrated weed management
rumen
slurry
maize silage
propagule dispersal risk
title Viability of <i>Cyperus esculentus</i> Seeds and Tubers After Ensiling, Digestion by Cattle, and Manure Storage
title_full Viability of <i>Cyperus esculentus</i> Seeds and Tubers After Ensiling, Digestion by Cattle, and Manure Storage
title_fullStr Viability of <i>Cyperus esculentus</i> Seeds and Tubers After Ensiling, Digestion by Cattle, and Manure Storage
title_full_unstemmed Viability of <i>Cyperus esculentus</i> Seeds and Tubers After Ensiling, Digestion by Cattle, and Manure Storage
title_short Viability of <i>Cyperus esculentus</i> Seeds and Tubers After Ensiling, Digestion by Cattle, and Manure Storage
title_sort viability of i cyperus esculentus i seeds and tubers after ensiling digestion by cattle and manure storage
topic prevention
integrated weed management
rumen
slurry
maize silage
propagule dispersal risk
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/4/844
work_keys_str_mv AT jeroenfeys viabilityoficyperusesculentusiseedsandtubersafterensilingdigestionbycattleandmanurestorage
AT emielwelvaert viabilityoficyperusesculentusiseedsandtubersafterensilingdigestionbycattleandmanurestorage
AT mattiedemeester viabilityoficyperusesculentusiseedsandtubersafterensilingdigestionbycattleandmanurestorage
AT jooslatre viabilityoficyperusesculentusiseedsandtubersafterensilingdigestionbycattleandmanurestorage
AT evawambacq viabilityoficyperusesculentusiseedsandtubersafterensilingdigestionbycattleandmanurestorage
AT dannycallens viabilityoficyperusesculentusiseedsandtubersafterensilingdigestionbycattleandmanurestorage
AT shanaclercx viabilityoficyperusesculentusiseedsandtubersafterensilingdigestionbycattleandmanurestorage
AT gertvandeven viabilityoficyperusesculentusiseedsandtubersafterensilingdigestionbycattleandmanurestorage
AT dirkreheul viabilityoficyperusesculentusiseedsandtubersafterensilingdigestionbycattleandmanurestorage
AT bennydecauwer viabilityoficyperusesculentusiseedsandtubersafterensilingdigestionbycattleandmanurestorage