MVGCSA Research

Bermudagrass control in zoysia project beginning to show results

2010-07-26T14:10:00.001-07:00

First off, thank you to all who were able to attend Mizzou's Turf Field Day in Columbia on July 13^th. Although it may be difficult to take off in mid-July, it was nice to see some MVGCSA representation. For those who were not able to make it this year, hopefully we will see you there next year. The weather was great and there was plenty of research focused specifically on golf course management. Any feedback or recommendations for next year would be appreciated.

As for local research in the St. Louis area, the collaborative project between MVGCSA and the University of Missouri began in early June of this year which focused on bermudagrass control in zoysia. After seven weeks, data recording bermuda injury and zoysia tolerance to the different treatments is beginning to show some trends. Six treatments (see table below) were selected from a greenhouse screening to be included in our research trial located at "The Falls" golf club in O'Fallon, MO where Rob Schaff is the superintendent. Of those six, three have shown to be very effective at suppressing the bermuda without causing significant injury to the zoysia. The most effective treatment so far has been treatment 3 (Fusilade (5.1 oz/acre) +Turflon Ester (28.5 oz/acre)) followed by treatments 1 and 2 (both rate combinations of Acclaim Extra + Turflon Ester). Treatment 3 was the most effective for controlling bermuda two weeks after the first application although treatments 1 and 2 appear to be equally effective after 4 weeks. After six weeks, it seems that the 'Fusilade' application (treatment 3) maintains a higher quality zoysia stand compared to all other treatments while still regulating the bermuda. Treatments 4 and 5, which combine Tenacity with Acclaim and Fusilade, have not provided consistent bermuda control and have caused significant stunting and injury to the zoysia.

Three applications have been made to this point with a reapplication interval of 21 days. Based on the bermuda regrowth threshold of 30%, the 21 day interval was appropriate earlier in the summer but since the temperatures and growth rates have increased, the next reapplication is scheduled for 14 days after the last. We would love to hear feedback from anyone else that is spraying these products or others to control bermuda in zoysia. Steve Song (M.S. candidate at MU) is establishing an additional field site at the turfgrass research facility in Columbia, MO to evaluate these and other treatment combinations and timings as well. Please contact Dan Lloyd, Rob Schaff, or Tim Roethler with questions or comments about this research.

Treatment	Trade names	Active ingredients	Application Rate (Oz Product/acre)	Reapplication interval
1	Acclaim + Turflon	Fenoxaprop + triclopyr	28 +6.5	21 day
2	Acclaim + Turflon	Fenoxaprop + triclopyr	24 +24	21 day
3	Fusilade + Turflon	Fluazifop + triclopyr	5.1+28.5	21 day
4	Tenacity + Acclaim	Mesotrione + Fenoxaprop	5+28	21 day
5	Tenacity + Fusilade	Mesotrione + fluazifop	5+5.1	21 day
6	Untreated			-

Photo taken 14 days after the first application

Tim Roethler and Rob Schaff discussing treatment effects

University of Missouri / MVGCSA research begins this week!

2010-06-08T11:45:00.001-07:00

The University of Missouri and MVGCSA are collaborating on a research project focused on bermudagrass removal in zoysia fairways specifically evaluating herbicide combinations, application timings, and traffic stress. We are currently looking for more golf courses to cooperate on this project. Our goal is to involve many different courses in order to expand the practical significance of the research and broaden recommendations to cover course specific factors like traffic and shade. Dr. Xi Xiong and Dan Lloyd from the University of Missouri will coordinate this project at locations in St. Louis as well as our greenhouse and research farm in Columbia, MO where we will evaluate the effectiveness of control measures using replicated designs and standardized procedures and equipment. What we need now is more courses to get involved that are willing to do a little research in house. Involvement in this project can be as simple or complex as you choose. For you to get involved, this is what you can do:

Take a look at the proposed treatment list that I have below. Set aside products for any or all of the treatments below that you would like to try.
Pick out a zoysia tee or fairway that has a significant bermuda infestation. The size of the plot is your choice, and will probably depend on the equipment you have. If you have a backpack sprayer with a four foot boom, then you can make plots that size. If your sprayer has a ten foot boom, make plots ten feet wide. Or if you just want to pick a couple treatments and split applications down the center of a fairway or between tee boxes, that will also work.
We will coordinate our application timings based on the growth rate of bermuda and zoysia. I will send out blog posts or email reminders when it an application date nears. Reapplication intervals are targeted for when the bermudagrass rebounds roughly 30%. Again I will send out reminders around this time.
Apply the treatments and observe. You can record data on a rating sheet that I will send out or just make notes on your own. Be sure to take pictures.
At the end of the season, send me your data and pictures and I will compile them into a presentation at the end of the year.

Treatments:

Treatment	Trade names	Active ingredients	oz Product/acre	Repeat treatment	Interval (% regrowth)
1	Acclaim + Turflon	Fenoxaprop + triclopyr	28 +6.5	28 +6.5	30%
2	Acclaim + Turflon	Fenoxaprop + triclopyr	24 +24	24 +24	30%
3	Fusilade + Turflon	Fluazifop + triclopyr	5.1+28.5	5.1+28.5	30%
4	Tenacity + Acclaim	Mesotrione + Fenoxaprop	5+28	5+28	30%
5	Tenacity + Fusilade	Mesotrione + fluazifop	5+5.1	5+5.1	30%
6	Untreated			-	-

From there we should have some good data to choose the best method available. We are currently planning on continuing this project for three growing seasons with regular progress reports as we go. Do not hesitate to contact me or Tim Roethler, chair of MVGCSA research committee (troethler@oldwarson.com) for more information.

Dan Lloyd

Turfgrass research specialist

University of Missouri

lloyddt@missouri.edu

573-239-2757

This is a picture taken during our greenhouse screening portion of this project, the bottom two rows are bermudagrass varieties (Riviera above Quickstand) and the top two rows are zoysia varieties (El Toro above Meyers). Different columns represent different treatments with the contol treatment shown for reference on the left side.

WELCOME!!

2009-12-16T20:13:00.001-08:00

Welcome to the newly created MVGCSA Research blog!
Check back often for updates on our new research project!