Source: UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA submitted to NRP
KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS CONTROL IN ALFALFA
Sponsoring Institution
State Agricultural Experiment Station
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
STATE
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0205829
Grant No.
(N/A)
Cumulative Award Amt.
(N/A)
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2005
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2006
Grant Year
(N/A)
Program Code
[(N/A)]- (N/A)
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA
(N/A)
RENO,NV 89557
Performing Department
ADMINISTRATION
Non Technical Summary
Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) is a significant weed problem throughout Nevada wherever alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is grown under pivot irrigation. The frequent light irrigation that is delivered in the area nearer to the pivot irrigation tower provides an ideal environment for the dense sod-forming Kentucky bluegrass to dominate over alfalfa and other tap-root or bunchgrass plant growth forms. Kentucky bluegrass not only negatively affects crop yields, decreases the relative feed value of the forage, but also influences the price downward to buyers of high quality feeds for diary cattle because of the appearance. The purpose of this project is to determine a cost-effective herbicide management program to control Kentucky bluegrass in alfalfa under pivot irrigation in Nevada.
Animal Health Component
100%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
100%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
2051640114050%
2131640114050%
Knowledge Area
205 - Plant Management Systems; 213 - Weeds Affecting Plants;

Subject Of Investigation
1640 - Alfalfa;

Field Of Science
1140 - Weed science;
Goals / Objectives
To determine a cost effective herbicide management program to control Kentucky bluegrass in alfalfa under pivot irrigation in Nevada.l
Project Methods
An application of Kerb herbicide will be applied in a randomized complete block design with five application rates and four replicates with checks. This will be done in the fall of 2005 after soil temperatures have dropped below 50 degrees F. and will be irrigated in, either with rainfall or pivot irrigation. The application equipment will be GPS located, precision application equipment available from the Tri-County Weed Program in Ely, Nevada. In the early spring of 2005 a spring-tooth harrow will be used across the trial area. After emergence of the Kentucky bluegrass various rates of the grass herbicides Poast and/or Select will be applied using the same application equipment as previously. These treatments will be applied across the various rates of Kerb herbicide.

Progress 09/01/05 to 08/31/06

Outputs
We have completed the Kentucky bluegrass trials in Eureka. Kerb herbicide at 2 pounds / acre give is over 90% control and we keep suppression of Kentucky bluegrass down to 1 pound / acre. Dow AgriSciences has reviewed the data and the results of the trial with me. They are planning on introducing another Kerb herbicide product especially for control of Kentucky bluegrass in alfalfa. The target is irrigated acres of alfalfa hay throughout the western United States. In the mean-time producers were given the information at a field day in Eureka during the summer and again at an indoor workshop in October of last year.

Impacts
Kerb herbicide at 2 pounds / acre give us over 90% control and we kept suppression of Kentucky bluegrass down to 1 pound / acre.

Publications

  • No publications reported this period