Kyllinga erecta Schumach.

Code

CYPAT

Growth form

sedge

Biological cycle

vivacious

Habitat

terrestrial

New Caledonia: The flowering of Kyllinga erecta occurs on stems of 2 to 3 months during the rainy season. At the same time, a new vegetative regrowth has occurred that will bloom in two months. This ongoing process makes it a very aggressive species.
Mayotte: K. erecta occurs during the rainy season.
West Indies: The vegetative development of Kyllinga erecta is more important and continuous during the rainy season, when it flowers on 2-3 month old plants. Its rhizomes offer it a great capacity of multiplication.

Kyllinga erecta can be easily confused with K. bulbosa P.Beauv..

- K. erecta is characterized by large short rhizomes and dense stems. Spikelets have 1 to 2 flowers.
- K. bulbosa is characterized by a thickened tuberous axis base, the presence of long, small rhizomes, the spikelets have 3 to 5 flowers.

Comoros: Kyllinga erecta is very common in the most humid areas of the island of Grande Comore and prefers open areas, near lakes and rivers. In Anjouan and Moheli it is also found very often in the marshes, along rivers, at low altitude.
French Guyana: Kyllinga erecta is found in dense colonies in the vast majority of open environments: roadsides, gardens, roadsides, ditches, edges of plots, pastures, vegetable crops etc.. This species is locally invasive. It grows in humid places, where water stagnates and sandy grounds.
Madagascar: fairly common weed of humid areas (lowlands of central highlands, eastern side). It grows in moist grounds and cool places at the edge of crop fields, canals and streams.
Mauritius: Weed of humid to very humid stations, in vacant plots and cultures.
Mayotte: K. erecta is a weed of fruit and pineapple crops, especially in the xerophilous region of the south of the island.
Reunion: This species is characteristic of sandy soil surface. It is very common in all sites ranging from moderately humid to super humid regions, also in large numbers in areas of the coastal plains to flush water table and often present in irrigated areas.
Seychelles: Weed common in most regions, adapted to all soil types, from relatively humid to well- drained.
West Indies: Kyllinga erecta grows best on moist or temporarily flooded soils.

Local harmfulness

Burkina Faso: frequent and scarce.
Comoros: Kyllinga erecta is very abundant in associated crops: cassava, maize, pigeonpea and in the rice fields and banana fields.
Ivory Coast: frequent and scarce.
Chad: frequent and scarce.
Ghana: frequent and generally abundant.
French Guiana: Kyllinga erecta is becoming the focus of concern in terms of weeds for some farmers. This species, which is frequently found in abundance in open areas, rapidly colonizes pastures. Some are invaded. It also develops in very dense patches in vegetable plots.
Kenya: common and scarce.
Madagascar: A weed infrequent and scarce in crops.
Mali: rare and scarce.
Mauritius: An established population can become very troublesome for the development of sugar cane and vegetables. It has an average to high harmfulness.
Mayotte: K. erecta is an infrequent weed present in 7% of cultivated plots, and more particularly in fruit crops, ylang and pineapple.
Nigeria: frequent and generally abundant.
New Caledonia: It was observed early in 1950. This cyperaceae prefers moist areas and is preferentially found on the East Coast, rather in a sunny position. Moreover, it is confined to certain areas of degraded pastures, in the temporarily flooded lowland or after trampling of waterlogged soil by livestock
Uganda: common and generally abundant.
Reunion: Not cohabiting well with sugar cane, it is found numerously but sparsely in the fields of small canes. It can be very abundant and very troublesome in meadow.
Senegal: rare and scarce.
Seychelles: This weed is considered as one of the most serious by farmers because it affects all cultures and is difficult to control.
West Indies: The continuous vegetative development of Kyllinga erecta makes it a very aggressive species in agriculture as well as in livestock (not palatable to livestock except in the young stage in some cases).

Global control

For weed control tips perennial Cyperaceae of irrigated rice and lowland in Africa, visit: http://portal.wiktrop.org/document/show/30
 
Mechanical control: Once installed, Kyllinga erecta is insensitive to selective herbicides and the only satisfactory method in case of heavy infestation in a lawn is to work the ground and then mechanically remove the rhizomes and to replant.
Chemical control: High seedling densities can occur in replanted lawns: an application of MCPA or 2,4-D can be effective. On roads or areas where the ground should be bare, non-selective products such as glyphosate are effective.
 
Local control

French Guiana: Some farmers are trying to control Kyllinga erecta by rebalancing the soil pH, by gyro-cutting. An application of thatch could help control the invasion of this weed.
New Caledonia:
Mechanical control: Overgrazing should be avoided at any cost, as it promotes the spread of Kyllinga erecta. Some grasses supporting the temporary congestion can compete with them (Brachiaria mutica, Para, Paspalum plicatulum, Setaria grass cv. Kazungula). Small infestations can be stopped by pulling out clumps and all underground stems. For larger infestations, mechanical tillage outside the rainy season, will move the rhizomes at the surface and will cause them to dry out. The regular passing of roller also allows to regularly break aerial stems.
Chemical control: It is suitable for small areas with a frequency of 2 open glyphosate applications targeting infested areas in dosage of 2160 g / ha to obtain a conclusive result. An implementation of forage grasses adapted to wet soils may be necessary on the treated areas.
West Indies: The abundance of Kyllinga erecta is a key condition for the establishment of an integrated system combining plant and animal production to control weediness. Isolated plants can be eliminated by completely removing the clumps and rhizomes. For larger infestations, mechanical tillage outside the rainy season will bring the rhizomes to the surface to dry out. In mechanically weeded orchards, it can participate in the formation of a spontaneous cover. However, good drainage is required to avoid waterlogging of the soil, which could lead to its development.

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