Progress 10/01/06 to 12/31/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The research green located on the north farm is planted to various bermudagrasses, bentgrasses, and seashore paspalum. This was the third year of experiments on the research green. Most of the area has been dedicated to ultradwarf varieties of bermudagrass, however there are also areas for cultivar development, creeping bentgrass, athletic field cultivars of bermudagrass, and seashore paspalum. Research on the green this year included experiments on wetting agents, turf growth products, herbicides, cultural practices, and fungicides. In weed control research commercially available alternatives were evaluated for efficacy on tillering crabgrass. A new flowable formulation of indaziflam herbicide for turfgrasses was evaluated for pre-emergence control of annual weeds. Both pre-emergence and postemergence herbicide treatments were evaluated for control of doveweed which has been becoming more of a problem in the past few years. In roadside ROW turf several combinations of amincyclopyrachor plus other products were evaluated for control of cogongrass and other weeds. An experiment was initiated to examine the best method for producing a sand-based sod when one does not a have sandy soils. Sand meeting USGA specification was brought in from off site and applied to a turf area about a month after sod harvest. Different rates and techniques and rates of sand application are being tested. Turfgrass breeding and cultivar development efforts continue with warm season grasses at MSU. Material transfer agreements have been set up with four US turf marketing companies to evaluate new MSU-bred cultivars for golf green application, both domestically and abroad. New and experimental cultivars can be viewed at MSU's Plant Science Research Center. Numerous individual tours were given throughout the year. Research plots were featured at the MSU Turfgrass Research Field Day. A variety test sponsored by the Texas Agrilife Research and Extension Center was planted in November, 2010 to evaluate the turf performance of 60 hybrid bluegrass cultivars at the MSU Rodney Foil Plant Science Research Center. An experiment was initiated on the research green to examine the use of spent coffee and tea as organic todresssing materials. The green, other research areas and some of our initial findings were displayed at our fifth annual field day and equipment expo held on August 23, 2011. Over 100 individuals with interest in the turf industry were in attendance. Additional information was presented at the Mississippi Turfgrass Association Annual Conference, November 14, 2012 Choctaw, MS. PARTICIPANTS: Dr.'s Stewart and G. Munshaw TARGET AUDIENCES: Mississippi Turf Industry, Mississippi Extension Agents PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Nature Safe and VitAg were fertilizer products that, when applied in late summer, provided quick color responses that were visible until frost-induced dormancy in fall. As topdressed organic amendments coffee and tea produced darker green color than straight-sand topdressed or untreated turf. Plots topdreesed with peat were darker than coffee or tea plots. Coffee amended plots maintained the highest soil moisture content. Plots topdressed with straight sand held less moisture than untreated control plots. Finding an alternative to MSMA for post-emergence control of tillering crabgrass continues to be a problem. Herbicides such as quinclorac, sulfentrazone, and flazasulfuron and combinations of these do provide some level of control but control does not reach the level observed with MSMA and multiple applications are needed. Indaziflam was observed to have excellent control of crabgrass and prostrate spurge. A combination of Dimethamid-P and pendimethalin did provide season-long pre-emergence control of doveweed and was better than either herbicide alone. Post-emergence control of doveweed was best with a combination of sulfentrazone, 2,4-D, MCPP, and dicamba and outperformed a combination of thiencarbozone, iodosulfuron, and dicamba. In roadsides evaluations of formulations of aminocyclopyralid combined with other herbicides such as 2,4-D. triclopyr, metsulfuron, chlorsulfuron, and imazapyr indicated that this product has the flexibility to be used in different combinations depending on the site such as bermudagrass, bahiagrass, or invasive species control. Weed identification and herbicide symptomology continue to be a welcome addition to the Turfgrass Field Day and participation increased this year from the previous year. A U.S. plant patent was applied for in 2011 to protect the MSU-bred bermudagrass cultivar MSB-04-264. International patent applications may follow. Negotiations are underway for commercial licensing of this cultivar. Performance data from the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program bermudagrass, St. Augustinegrass, and tall fescue tests at MSU for 2011 can be viewed at www.ntep.org. A local television station aired a segment on grasses for semintary plots with a member of the MSU turf team. MSU Turf Personnel served as the meeting program organizer for the SERA-EIG 25 meeting in San Juan, PR, June 5-8, 2012. As hosts we were involved in many of the presentations at the meeting and disseminated information to our peers at other southeastern institutions with turfgrass programs.
Publications
- Munshaw, G. C., H.W. Philley, B. R. Stewart, D.W. Wells, C. J. Kleinman and J. M. Layton. Bermudagrass Surface Hardness Varies With Cultivar. 2012. Applied Turfgrass Science. American Society of Agronomy. Madison, WI (In Review).
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Progress 01/01/11 to 12/31/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The research green located on the north farm is planted to various bermudagrasses, bentgrasses, and seashore paspalum. This was the third year of experiments on the research green. Most of the area has been dedicated to ultradwarf varieties of bermudagrass, however there are also areas for cultivar development, creeping bentgrass, athletic field cultivars of bermudagrass, and seashore paspalum. Research on the green this year included experiments on wetting agents, turf growth products, herbicides, cultural practices, and fungicides. In weed control research commercially available alternatives were evaluated for efficacy on tillering crabgrass. A new flowable formulation of indaziflam herbicide for turfgrasses was evaluated for pre-emergence control of annual weeds. Both pre-emergence and postemergence herbicide treatments were evaluated for control of doveweed which has been becoming more of a problem in the past few years. In roadside ROW turf several combinations of amincyclopyrachor plus other products were evaluated for control of cogongrass and other weeds. An experiment was initiated to examine the best method for producing a sand-based sod when one does not a have sandy soils. Sand meeting USGA specification was brought in from off site and applied to a turf area about a month after sod harvest. Different rates and techniques and rates of sand application are being tested. Turfgrass breeding and cultivar development efforts continue with warm season grasses at MSU. Material transfer agreements have been set up with four US turf marketing companies to evaluate new MSU-bred cultivars for golf green application, both domestically and abroad. New and experimental cultivars can be viewed at MSU's Plant Science Research Center. Numerous individual tours were given throughout the year. Research plots were featured at the MSU Turfgrass Research Field Day. A variety test sponsored by the Texas Agrilife Research and Extension Center was planted in November, 2010 to evaluate the turf performance of 60 hybrid bluegrass cultivars at the MSU Rodney Foil Plant Science Research Center. An experiment was initiated on the research green to examine the use of spent coffee and tea as organic todresssing materials. The green, other research areas and some of our initial findings were displayed at our fifth annual field day and equipment expo held on August 23, 2011. Over 100 individuals with interest in the turf industry were in attendance. Additional information was presented at the Mississippi Turfgrass Association Annual Conference, November 14, 2012 Choctaw, MS. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Nature Safe and VitAg were fertilizer products that, when applied in late summer, provided quick color responses that were visible until frost-induced dormancy in fall. As topdressed organic amendments coffee and tea produced darker green color than straight-sand topdressed or untreated turf. Plots topdreesed with peat were darker than coffee or tea plots. Coffee amended plots maintained the highest soil moisture content. Plots topdressed with straight sand held less moisture than untreated control plots. Finding an alternative to MSMA for post-emergence control of tillering crabgrass continues to be a problem. Herbicides such as quinclorac, sulfentrazone, and flazasulfuron and combinations of these do provide some level of control but control does not reach the level observed with MSMA and multiple applications are needed. Indaziflam was observed to have excellent control of crabgrass and prostrate spurge. A combination of Dimethamid-P and pendimethalin did provide season-long pre-emergence control of doveweed and was better than either herbicide alone. Post-emergence control of doveweed was best with a combination of sulfentrazone, 2,4-D, MCPP, and dicamba and outperformed a combination of thiencarbozone, iodosulfuron, and dicamba. In roadsides evaluations of formulations of aminocyclopyralid combined with other herbicides such as 2,4-D. triclopyr, metsulfuron, chlorsulfuron, and imazapyr indicated that this product has the flexibility to be used in different combinations depending on the site such as bermudagrass, bahiagrass, or invasive species control. Weed identification and herbicide symptomology continue to be a welcome addition to the Turfgrass Field Day and participation increased this year from the previous year. A U.S. plant patent was applied for in 2011 to protect the MSU-bred bermudagrass cultivar MSB-04-264. International patent applications may follow. Negotiations are underway for commercial licensing of this cultivar. Performance data from the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program bermudagrass, St. Augustinegrass, and tall fescue tests at MSU for 2011 can be viewed at www.ntep.org. A local television station aired a segment on grasses for semintary plots with a member of the MSU turf team. MSU Turf Personnel served as the meeting program organizer for the SERA-EIG 25 meeting in San Juan, PR, June 5-8, 2012. As hosts we were involved in many of the presentations at the meeting and disseminated information to our peers at other southeastern institutions with turfgrass programs.
Publications
- Munshaw, G. C., H.W. Philley, B. R. Stewart, D.W. Wells, C. J. Kleinman and J. M. Layton. Bermudagrass Surface Hardness Varies With Cultivar. 2012. Applied Turfgrass Science. American Society of Agronomy. Madison, WI (In Review).
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Progress 01/01/10 to 12/31/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The research green located on the north farm is planted to various bermudagrasses, bentgrasses, and seashore paspalum. This was the third year of experiments on the research green. Most of the area has been dedicated to ultradwarf varieties of bermudagrass, however there are also areas for cultivar development, creeping bentgrass, athletic field cultivars of bermudagrass, and seashore paspalum. Research on the green this year included experiments on wetting agents, turf growth products, herbicides and fungicides. Many products are marketed to turf managers that reputedly enhance turf growth/quality for a small cost. We compared the turf response of several of ~$30 of these products to adding $30 worth of nitrogen fertilizer. Pastora herbicide, a prepackaged mixture of nicosulfuron and metsulfuron was shown to be beneficial in establishment of seeded common bermudagrass and will be investigated more and may be a way of controlling some annual grass weeds during establishment. The loss of MSMA will be a challenge to overcome in many areas of postemergence weed control in warm season turfgrasses. Flazasulfuron is now labeled for use in bermudagrass and zoysiagrass and will help in controlling a number of cool and warm-season grass weeds and broadleaves. Summer heat stress on creeping bentgrass putting greens is a great concern for turf managers in the mid-South. Photorespiration reduces carbohydrate reserves and results in reduced growth. In an effort to bypass photorespiration, a study was completed examining the effect of exogenously applied sugars. Results were presented at several meetings regional and national meetings. Traffic on turf in dog parks is an area of concern for dog owners and managers of dog parks. Little documentation of the impacts of dog traffic or how specific turf varieties hold up to dog traffic are available. A 2 year experiment was designed to examine the effects of dog park traffic on 10 varieties of turfgrass. First year and second year results of this study were presented at the Mississippi Turfgrass Association Annual Conference, and at the American Society of Agronomy Annual meeting. Cultivar development efforts continue with warm season grasses. These new and experimental cultivars can be viewed at MSU's Plant Science Research Center. Numerous individual tours were given throughout the year. Research plots were featured at the MSU Turfgrass Research Field Day. A variety test sponsored by the Texas Agrilife Research and Extension Center was planted in November, 2010 to evaluate the turf performance of 60 hybrid bluegrass cultivars at the MSU Rodney Foil Plant Science Research Center. The green, other research areas and some of our initial findings were displayed at our fourth annual field day and equipment expo held on August 24, 2010. Over 100 individuals with interest in the turf industry were in attendance. Additional information was presented at the Mississippi Turfgrass Association Annual Conference, November 8 Biloxi, MS. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
In the first year of the dog traffic study dog traffic did not cause failure in nine grass types planted in the dog park experiment although the planting of tall fescue did fail because it was planted too late in the season and this was not unexpected. The tall fescue plots will be re-established this spring. In the second year of the study, culitivars of bermudagrass and seashore paspalum were the only cultivars that were not severely damaged by a combination of dog traffic and draught. None of the turf growth products tested produced growth that was greater than or equal to the additional nitrogen impact on turf growth/quality. We will continue to test these products for the efficacy in growing high quality turf. Weed identification and herbicide symptomology continue to be a welcome addition to the Turfgrass Field Day and participation increased this year from the previous year. Aminocyclopyrachlor provided excellent control of many difficult to control weed species along roadsides in Mississippi. Control of cogongrass with aminocyclopyrachlor applied during the spring was as effective as glyphosate or imazapyr. This compound provided excellent control of buckhorn plantain, trumpetcreeper, kudzu, poison ivy, hemp dogbane, and wild carrot. Seed germination of new improved turf bermudagrass cultivars has been less than desirable. These seeds are commercially coated before market. Germination research involving five cultivars, two seed lots from each cultivar, and five temperature regimes revealed no significant effect of commercial coating. Performance data from the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program bermudagrass, St. Augustinegrass, and tall fescue tests at MSU for 2009 can be viewed at www.ntep.org.
Publications
- Evaluation of warm season grasses for use in Southern dog parks. Stewart, Barry; Wells, Wayne; Philley, Herbert; Munshaw, Gregg. 2010. 2010 International Annual Meetings: [Abstracts][ASA-CSSA-SSSA]. p. 58968. Long Beach, CA, Nov. 1, 2010.
- John Layton M.S. 2010. Thesis - Seed Coating, Seed Treatment, and Temperature Effects on Germination of Five Bermudagrass Cultivars
- Brett Long M.S. 2010. Thesis - The Effect of Exogenous Fructose on Creeping Bentrgrass Heat Tolerance
- Jerome Nettles M.S. 2010. Thesis - The Effects of Four Pre-Emergent Herbicides on the Rooting Architecture of Hybrid Bermudagrass
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Progress 01/01/09 to 12/31/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The recently constructed research green is planted to various bermudagrasses, bentgrasses, and seashore paspalum. Because of high environmental and economic concern, new studies involved nitrogen fertility regimes for the growth of bermudagrass and seashore paspalum. The green and some of our initial findings were displayed at our annual field day and equipment expo on September 11, 2009. Over 100 individuals with interest in the turf industry were in attendance. Additional information was presented at the Mississippi Turfgrass Association Conference, November 18-19 in Choctaw, MS. Summer heat stress on creeping bentgrass putting greens is a great concern for turf managers in MS. Photorespiration reduces carbohydrate reserves and results in reduced growth. In an effort to bypass photorespiration, a study was initiated examining the effect of exogenously applied sugars. Early results were presented at several meetings around the state. As water resources are becoming increasingly tight across the planet, many areas restrict the amount of water available for turfgrasses. A study was initiated to examine the effects of pre-emergent herbicides on turfgrass rooting characteristics and the subsequent effect on water uptake by the plants. Results from this study have been presented in surrounding states as well as the American Society of Horticultural Science Annual Meeting and the Southern Weed Science Society Annual Meeting in 2009. Traffic on turf in dog parks as well as the effects of canine excrements on turf is an area of concern for dog owners and managers of dog parks. Little documentation of the impacts of dog traffic or how specific turf varieties withstand dog traffic is available. An experiment was designed to examine the effects of dog park traffic on 10 varieties of turfgrass as well as the response to dog urine. Early results of this study were presented in a talk and poster presentation at the Mississippi Turfgrass Association Annual Conference, November 18 and 19 in Choctaw, MS. Turf variety trials are important to determine the unique characteristics of new cultivars and their strengths and weaknesses for different applications. Cultivar development efforts at MSU continue with warm season grasses. These new and experimental cultivars were viewed at MSU's Plant Science Research Center by individuals or tour groups throughout the year and were featured at the MSU Turfgrass Research Field Day. Hybrid bluegrass is a new turf species that needs to be tested in MS. A variety test sponsored by the Texas Agrilife Research and Extension Center was planted in November, 2009 to evaluate the performance of 60 hybrid bluegrass cultivars at the MSU Rodney Foil Plant Science Research Center. New research plots, including three varieties of St. Augustinegrass and a turf type tall fescue were established and new irrigation was installed to enable new weed control projects to be performed at the Plant Science Research Center. New herbicides as well as some of the older herbicides were evaluated for preemergence and postemergence control of annual and perennial grass weeds in anticipation of the loss of MSMA and other arsenical turf herbicides. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Bermudagrass rooting was most inhibited by pre-emergent herbicides 8 to 12 weeks after application (WAA). This finding was used in studies that determined the drought tolerance of bermudagrass with compromised root systems. We are still analyzing the data from these studies. These findings will allow turf managers to better manage water during this critical period. Dog traffic did not cause failure in nine grass types planted in the dog park experiment although the planting of tall fescue did fail because it was planted too late in the season and this was not unexpected. The tall fescue plots will be re-established this spring. No ball mark repair tool was found to be superior to all other tools on bentgrass greens, but tools that used a push forward method did prove to be superior to tools that used a dig up the center method. These finding suggest that training for golfers on methodology of repair would be of benefit and facilitate faster recovery and uniformity of putting surfaces. Seeding grasses early (June) in the summer proved to be superior to seeding grasses later in the summer (August) with respect to survival the following year. The cultivar Riviera was shown to allow for a longer seeding window than all other seeded bermudagrass cultivars tested. Models were generated from data collected in this experiment to predict percent green turf cover in the following spring resulting from different planting dates. These finding will allow turf mangers to further refine their efforts to successfully establish bermudagrass from seed. Bermudagrass turf seed is presently coated before market. Less than desirable results in establishment of new and expensive cultivars have raised question about a possible negative effect of seed coating on germination. Our research involving five cultivars, two seed lots from each cultivar, and five temperature regimes revealed no significant effect of commercial coating on bermudagrass germination. The new research plots of St. Augustine and tall fescue were a welcome addition at the MSU Turfgrass Research Field Day and Equipment Expo in September where a new training session on turfgrass tolerance to various herbicides was added to the program. Sulfentrazone, quinclorac, and flazasulfuron were found to control crabgrass postemergence, but will require a higher level of knowledge about the biology of crabgrass from the end user in order to be effective. These herbicides will require turf managers to make postemergence applications to crabgrass much earlier than with MSMA. They were also found to perform better when a premergence such as pendimethalin or prodiamine was added to the tank-mixture.
Publications
- Bigelow, C., E. Guertal, and G. Munshaw. 2009. Podcast Utilization by Turfgrass Science Students. Agron. Abstr. 101:cd rom.
- Munshaw, G. C., H. W. Philley, J. M. Goatley, P. D. Gerard, and B. R. Stewart. 2009. Timing of seeded bermudagrass establishment affects first winter ITSRJ. 11:417-426.
- Munshaw, G. C., H. W. Philley, and J. S. Beasley. 2009. No-till strategies for converting common bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L.) to improved seeded cultivars. ITSRJ. 11:427-436.
- Munshaw, G. C., J. M. Goatley, Jr., W. Totten, S. O. Doak, and E. H. Ervin. 2009. Turf Baby A Novel Educational Exercise. Agron. Abstr. 101:cd rom.
- Nettles, C. J., Jr., G. C. Munshaw, J. S. Beasley, B. R. Stewart, and B. W. Trader. 2009. The effects of four pre-emergent herbicides on the rooting architecture of hybrid bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L. x C. transvaalensis Burtt-Davy). ASHS.
- Nettles, J. G. Munshaw, S.M. Borst, R. Strahan, and J. Beasley. 2009. Effects of four pre-emergent herbicides on the rooting architecture of hybrid bermudagrass. SWSS.
- Ball Marks: Does repair tool influence recovery time Barry R. Stewart*, Gregg C. Munshaw, H. Wayne Philley and D. Wayne Wells. International Turf Research Journal, 2009. International Turfgrass Society, 11th Turfgrass Research Conference, Santiago, Chile, July 26-31, 2009. p. 489-500.
- Potential new herbicides to add to Mississippi Department of Transportation approved products list. 2009. R.S. Wright and J.D. Byrd. Proc. South. Weed Sci. Soc. 62:430.
- Granular applications of trifloxysulfuron for weed control in bermudagrass turfgrass. 2009. J.M. Taylor and J.D. Byrd. Proc. South. Weed Sci. Soc. 62:165.
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Progress 01/01/08 to 12/31/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Construction and establishment were completed on a research green that will allow us to do more research on turf management on sand based culture. The new green has an area of 27,000 sq. ft. Most of the area has been dedicated to ultradwarf varieties of bermudagrass, however there are also areas for cultivar development, creeping bentgrass, athletic field cultivars of bermudagrass, and seashore paspalum. First year research on the green included numerous studies of fertility regimes as they relate to the rate and quality of grow-in of bermudagrass and seashore paspalum. Nitrogen and Phosphorus were the elements on which this research was focused. Both are of environmental and economic concern. The green and some of our initial findings were displayed at our second annual field day and equipment expo held on September 12, 2008. Over 100 individuals with interest in the turf industry were in attendance. Additional information was presented at the Mississippi Turfgrass Association Annual Conference, November 3 and 4 in Tupelo, MS. Fine turfgrass weed control projects have been initiated and will continue to seek alternatives to control of annual and perennial grasses that have been previously controlled by MSMA. Some of the work has been focused on weed control in sod farms due to the inability to use some alternative preemergence herbicides which inhibit rooting and (or) are cost prohibitive. This work includes applications of glyphosate to dormant bermudagrass. Dormant bermudagrass is less likely to be injured by glyphosate applications. Other research has focused on the use of preemergence herbicides on bermudagrass golf course fairways and athletic fields. With the impending loss of MSMA as a turf herbicide, more preemergent controls will be used. Most preemergence herbicides are known to inhibit the establishment of a root system as the bermudagrass comes out of dormancy. It is not known how compromised root systems would affect turf quality under drought conditions. Early results from this study were presented at the Mississippi Turfgrass Association Annual Conference, November 3 and 4 in Tupelo, MS. Traffic on dormant athletic fields is an area of concern for many athletic field managers in MS. Little documentation of the impacts of dormant traffic are available although practitioners are certainly aware of the surface damage caused by dormant traffic. A dormant traffic study was initiated to document these effects. Early results of this study were presented in a poster presentation at the American Society of Agronomy Annual Meeting in Houston, TX, Oct. 5 - 9, 2008. The turf industry continues to demand improved cultivars. New cultivars must be characterized to determine their unique strengths and weaknesses for each application. Cultivar development efforts continue in bermudagrass and St. Augustinegrass. These grasses are on display at MSU's Rodney Foil Plant Science Research Center (North Farm). Numerous individual tours are given for potential end users, including sod farmers, seed company representatives and grass marketers. In addition these plots are featured at the field day mentioned above. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Our work in establishing grass on our research green produced some interesting results. We were able to grow-in, albeit very slowly, an ultradwarf bermudagrass surface with little or no applied phosphorus. Phosphorus (P) is often applied in excess during grow-in as it is an essential element. Applications of P certainly did hasten grow-in but full coverage was attained after 16 weeks. The initial part of the P response curve is very steep and even the small amount of P provided by the reed sedge peat amendment used in the construction of this green released enough P for a very slow, but successful grow-in. We also examined the use of slow release N sources during grow-in and found that they were in most cases not able to keep up with the rapid rate of surface coverage achieved with soluble (fast release) sources of N. This verifies what industry already knows about grow-in; solubles are the cheapest and most effective way to rapidly 'grow in' bermudagrass. Bermudagrass rooting was most inhibited 8 to 12 weeks after application (WAA) of preemergence herbicides. This finding will be used in studies determining the drought tolerance of bermudagrass with compromised root systems. These findings will allow turf managers to better manage water during this critical period. It was observed that dormant application of glyphosate for dallisgrass control looks promising and more studies are planned. In other herbicide work a new liquid formulation of quinclorac performed better than the old DF formulation for crabgrass control and provided similar results to the DF formulation for torpedograss control. This is extremely relevant as quinclorac is the only herbicide that controls torpedograss and will be relied upon more heavily for crabgrass control when MSMA is no longer available. An experimental herbicide, saflufenacil, was evaluated for Virginia buttonweed control and results looked promising with more studies to follow to control other broadleaf weeds in turfgrass. In Highway rights-of-way, evaluations were made for dallisgrass control using imazapic, glyphosate, or both in combination as a replacement for MSMA as late spring early summer applications. A newly discovered compound, aminocyclopyrachlor, indicated effective control of cogongrass. The level of control was similar to imazapyr combined with glyphosate up to at least one year after application. Traffic on dormant bermudagrass was found to delay spring green-up by a month compared to a non-trafficed control. If this trend holds, a strong case could be made for limiting dormant traffic on some fields. In a two year study to measure the surface hardness of 21 bermudagrass cultivars 'MS-Choice' and 'Celebration' produced the softest surfaces, while 'Tifway' and 'Tifsport' produced very firm surfaces. Performance data from the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program bermudagrass, St. Augustinegras, and tall fescue tests at MSU for 2008 can be viewed at www.ntep.org. Patent application has been filed for MSA-31, a St. Augustinegrass cultivar adapted to USDA hardiness zone 8 with improved performance in shade.
Publications
- Hutto, K.C., J.M. Taylor, and J.D. Byrd. 2008. Soil temperature as an application indicator for perennial ryegrass control. Weed Technol. 22:245-248.
- B. R. Stewart, C.J. Nettles, G.C. Munshaw, H. W. Philley, D. W. Wells. 2008. Traffic-ability of Dormant Bermudagrass. Abstract published in Proceedings of ASA Annual Meeting, Houston, TX, Oct. 5-8, 2008.
- Taylor, J.M., J.D. Byrd, and R.S. Wright. 2008. Tolerance of warm season turfgrasses to mesotrione. Weed Sci. Soc. Amer. Abstr. 47:38.
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Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The turf industry continues to demand improved turfgrass cultivars. New cultivars must be characterized to determine their unique strengths and weaknesses for each application. Patent application has been filed for Aurora, a St. Augustinegrass adapted to north MS and southern TN. Licensed production of this new cultivar will be forthcoming. New NTEP tests were planted in 2007 to evaluate bermudagrass and St. Augustinegrass cultivars at MSU. Early data from these tests, as well as data from the 2006 tall fescue test, can be viewed at www.ntep.org. New tall fescue cultivars look promising for home lawn application in Mississippi. Some F2 progeny bermudagrass genotypes greened-up earlier in spring 2007 than the parent cultivar MS-Choice. Fine turfgrass weed control, projects have been initiated and will continue to find alternatives to control of annual grasses that have been previously controlled by MSMA. The main focus will be on weed control in sod farms due to the inability to use some alternative preemergence herbicides which inhibit rooting and (or) are cost prohibitive. New control strategies have been developed using mesotrione for tufted lovegrass [Eragrostis pectinacea (Mich.) Nees] control in centipedegrass, St. Augustinegrass, and bermudagrass. A new formulation of quinclorac was superior to the old formulation for crabgrass control and it will be evaluated on torpedograss (Panicum repens L.) to see if it will provide better control of this problem weed which in the past could only be suppressed by the old formulation of quinclorac. In highway rights-of-way research, flazasulfuron 25WDG applied at 3, 6, or 9 oz prod./A provided low levels of mimosa (Albizia julibrissin Durazzini) control (17% or less). Prodiamine 65WDG applied during September at 0.75 lb ai/A provided effective control (70 to 88%) of ALS resistant ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.). Wild carrot (Daucus carota L.) control was achieved making fall applications with aminopyralid 2L at 7 fl oz/A (80 to 90%), and chlorsulfuron 75DF at 0.5 or 1.0 oz prod./A did not provide adequate control (47% or less). Using soil amendments to enhance the physical properties of soils with respect to water use has merit in light of the recent draughts and shortages of potable water in the United States and around the globe. Mineral based soil amendments that do not degrade are preferred in some applications such as golf greens. Organic amendments such as peat moss do degrade and the properties of the green may change with time due to degradation. Soil amendments from lassenite (volcanic ash) deposited were investigated and compared to amendments derived from zeolite clays. The amendments increased water holding capacity, allowing at least one additional day without water before the grass showed signs of wilting. The lassenite amendment produced higher quality turf and more roots compared to the zeolite amendment. Playing winter and late spring sports such as soccer on dormant bumudagrass turf is common in Mississippi, yet little is known about how this traffic affects the turf. Investigations into the traffic tolerance of dormant bermudagrass turfs were initiated. PARTICIPANTS: No Participant information reported. TARGET AUDIENCES: No Target Audiences information reported. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: No Project Modifications information reported.
Impacts
New control strategies have been developed using mesotrione for tufted lovegrass control in centipedegrass, St. Augustinegrass, and bermudagrass. Soil amendments from lassinite appear to produce higher quality seashore paspalum turf than zeolite clay amendments and straight sand in work with salty water and drought treatments. Patent application has been filed for Aurora, a St. Augustinegrass adapted to north MS and southern TN.
Publications
- Hutto, K.C., J.M. Taylor, and J.D. Byrd Jr. 2007. Evaluation of 2,4-D and 2,4-D mixtures for path rush control in bermudagrass. Weed Technol. 21:768-770.
- Coats, G.E., S.T. Kelly, and J.M. Taylor. Chapter 19, Benefits of triazine herbicides in turf. IN The Triazine Herbicides:50 Years Revolutionizing Agriculture. 2008. Editors H.M. LeBaron, J.E. McFarland, O.C. Burnside. 584 pp. Elsevier. San Diego, CA.
- Wright, R.S., J.D. Byrd, Jr., and J.M. Taylor. 2007. A Novel Approach for Control of Hemp Dogbane (Apocynum cannabinum L.) in Perennial Grasses. Proc. South. Weed Sci. Soc. 60:170.
- Munshaw, G. C., Stewart, B. R., Philley, H. W., and Wells, D. W. 2007.Ball mark repair: Is it the tool, or how you use it. Online. Applied Turfgrass Science doi:10.1094/ATS-2007-0816-01-RS.
- Maddox, V. L., Goatley, J. M., Jr., Philley, G., Stewart, B., and Wells, D. W. 2006. Maximizing .Cimarron. little bluestem establishment as secondary rough for a golf course. Online. Applied Turfgrass Science doi:10.1094/ATS-2007-0802-01-RS.
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