Yellow Nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus) is a common weed species in a varieties of regions. The Yellow Nutsedge growing degree day model developed by researchers, uses heat units and time as a method to estimate plant phenological stages through the growing season. This can be helpful to predict tuber emergence.

Calculating Growing Degree Days

For this model, a lower temperature threshold of 53F, and an upper threshold of 78F is used to calculate growing degree day accumulation. The lowest air temperature date or planting date, whichever is later, should be used as a biofix, the date when to start growing degree day accumulation. Growing degree days can be calculated from daily high and low temperatures, or via the Pest Prophet app, which uses hourly temperature data for a given field. Tuber emergence will occur at 204 GDD (F).

Learn More:

Wilen, C.A., J.S. Holt and W.B. McCloskey. 1996. Predicting yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus) emergence using degree-day models. Weed Science. 44: 821-829.