Early detection of sedge, smart control

In June, the field inspections of the NAK (Dutch General Inspection Service for seed potatoes and seeds) will start, which will also include checking for tuber sedge. This persistent weed spreads quickly via underground tubers and causes major economic damage. Current control methods, such as exhaustion, excavation and chemical agents, are expensive or lose their effectiveness due to resistance. That is why innovative solutions, such as sniffer dogs, are urgently needed.

Knolscyperus has a unique scent that sniffer dogs can be trained on. These dogs can already detect a slight contamination, to prevent a cultivation ban. In addition, sniffer dogs can also be used to see if the measure has proven effective after excavation or other control.

Electro-physical control
In electro-physical control, also called electric weeding, current is sent through the leaves via the stem to the roots. The short current pulse destroys the vascular bundles of the plant. The current strength at which this treatment is lethal for the plant depends on the size of the plant.

The following is required for proper functioning:

• The machine must have direct contact with the weeds.
• Dry weather conditions, the plot must not contain stagnant water.
• The plant must still contain sufficient moisture.
• The plot must be free of other crops and well leveled.

The costs are around €300/hour and €700/ha and an average of three treatments per year are needed. One year of electro-physical weed control has no visible effects on the overall soil condition and soil life.

What to do about sedge on your plot?
When sedge is detected on a plot, growers are required to take measures and a cultivation ban applies. There is no reporting obligation for sedge, but you are required to report an infection when the land is transferred to another owner. The cultivation ban is lifted when the plot has been declared free of sedge for three consecutive years, or has been converted (buried) or dug up immediately after infection and has been disposed of in a phytosanitary-friendly manner.

_{Sources:
Video: Sniffer dogs hunt for sedge
What can you do to combat sedge?
Report: Effective control of sedge: a field test for electro-physical weed control}

More information:
You can find more about sedge in the knowledge base
Professional information for arable farmers