![]() ![]() After analysis, overall categorical ratings of “tolerant” (i.e., acceptable plant injury of 35% plant injury) were developed based on plant injury and quality ratings across both experiment years (Figure 3, below).įigure 3. A separate analysis for each grass species was conducted for each year to limit confounding effects from plant maturity differences between years. Plant injury (0 to 100%) and plant quality (1 to 9 scale, where 9 = highest quality/health) were visually estimated for each species when treatments were initiated and every 14 days after application. The low and high herbicide rates were based on the label-recommended and twice the label-recommended rates. Seven herbicide treatments, including a non-treated check and two rates of quinclorac, sethoxydim and topramezone, were applied with a CO 2-pressurized boom sprayer equipped with XR TeeJet 8003VS nozzles calibrated to deliver 87 gallons/acre (813.8 liters/hectare) at 30 pounds per square inch on Aug. A few of the grass species included in the experiment: (A) indiangrass, (B) little bluestem, (C) switchgrass and (D) big bluestem. Plots were mowed only once in the spring at 4 inches prior to 100% spring green-up.įigure 2. Any plants that had unacceptable quality after 2018 were transplanted into plots from an adjacent field nursery on May 20, 2019, for Year Two of the experiment. Prior to the experiment, all plants were grown in a greenhouse and then transplanted into field plots on June 15, 2018. Daniel Turfgrass Research and Diagnostic Center at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind., to investigate the effect of herbicide treatments on 11 grass species maintained in a minimal- to no-mow secondary rough area ( Table 1 and Figure 2, below). Methodsįield studies were conducted in 20 at the W.H. Our assessment of postemergence herbicides for selective grass control for minimal- to no-mow areas should help equip golf course superintendents to control weeds and promote the potential for greater biodiversity of grass species in minimal- to no-mow areas. Our objective was to evaluate the tolerance of 11 grass species used in minimal- to no-mow turf areas to three postemergence herbicides applied at use label and two-fold recommended label rates. Only a few studies have investigated the safety of over-the-top applications of postemergence herbicides for selective grass control on multiple grass species (6, 7). Depending on site and environmental conditions, some minimal- to no-mow areas may become infested over time with invasive weeds, especially grassy weeds, which will decrease aesthetics and the functional properties of these areas. However, some regions have restrictions because of concerns over air pollution and public safety issues (8). Open field burning may be one effective solution for weed control. Weed control can be challenging in these minimal- to no-mow areas because there is often a large biodiversity of perennial species, both warm-season (C 4) and cool-season (C 3) grasses, planted within sites (8, 9, 10). Most often, these inputs may include mowing one to two times per year or weed control with herbicides to eradicate unwanted, encroaching vegetation and promote desired plant species. ![]() However, some inputs are occasionally still required in these areas to maintain aesthetics and playability. Minimal- to no-mow areas on the golf course are maintained with minimal inputs (e.g., pesticides, fertilizer, irrigation, mowing), and efforts to increase the acreage of these areas on golf courses continue to be promoted as an approach to not only reduce overall inputs and maintenance costs (5), but also to support plant biodiversity, wildlife, pollinators and other beneficial insects (3, 4). These secondary golf course rough areas that contain grasses, forbs and wildflowers are colloquially referred to by a variety of names by golf course superintendents, including “native areas,” “native rough,” “naturalized areas,” “natural rough,” “naturalized rough,” “minimal-mow areas” or “no-mow areas.” Here, we will refer to these areas as “minimal- to no-mow areas.” Furthermore, 21% of the total natural acreage consisted of native grasslands of these natural/native/non-mowed areas. Golf courses typically have two different rough areas: a primary rough, which is mowed between 1.5 and 4.0 inches (3.8 and 10.16 centimeters) and causes moderate difficulty in golfer strokes and a secondary rough, which is more often located in out-of-play areas and consists of grasslands or other natural areas (Figure 1, above).Ī GCSAA survey estimated there were 2,301,808 acres of golf facility land in the United States in 2015, of which 26% was composed of natural areas (5). Little bluestem, tall fescue and fine fescue in a minimal-mow natural golf course area at The Pfau Course at Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind. ![]()
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