Turfgrass Establishment after Application of Preemergence Herbicides¹

Abstract

Abstract Annual grasses create serious problems during turfgrass establishment from sod and from seed. Field studies were conducted to determine tbe effects of the preemergence herbicides oxadiazon [2‐ tert ‐butyl‐4(2,4‐dichloro‐5‐isopropoxyphenyl)‐Δ 2 ‐1,3,4‐oxadiazolin‐5‐one], prosulfalin [N‐[[4‐(dipropylamino)‐3,5 dinitropheny]]sulfonyl]‐S,S‐dimethylsulfilimine], and siduron [1‐(2 methylclyclohexyl)‐3‐phenylurea] on the establishment of three bermudagrasses [ Cynodon dactylon (L.) pers. ‘Midron’, and ‘Tufcote’ and Cynodon transvaalenis × Cynodon dactylon ‘Tifway’] from sod and perennial ryegrass ( Lolium perenne L. ‘Manhattan’] from seed. Sod was placed on tilled silt loam soil (Typic Hapludults), allowed 28 days for root development, and lifted vertically using force required as a measure of root development. Excellent root growth occurred from sod of the three bermudagrasses immediately after application of oxadiazon at 3.4 kg ha −1 (1× or normal use rate). Root development of bermudagrasses was reduced at 6.7 kg ha −1 of oxadiazon; however, satisfactory root growth was still apparent. Prosulfalin at 3.4 kg ha −1 and siduron at 11.2 kg ha −1 (1× or normal use rates) severely inhibited rooting of the three bermudagrasses from sod. Perennial ryegrass establishment in the fall was inhibited when seeded within 5 weeks after oxadiazon application at 4.5 kg ha −1 . Both oxadiazon or prosulfalin at 3.4 kg ha −1 reduced perennial ryegrass seedling establishment when the application was within 1 week prior to seeding. Normal seedling development occurred when perennial ryegrass was seeded at 10 weeks after prosulfalin or oxadiazon applications. Siduron had no effect on perennial ryegrass seedling growth and development.