Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Crop Protection and Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #157492
Title: USING PREEMERGENCE HERBICIDES TO IMPROVE ESTABLISHMENT OF CENTIPEDEGRASS (EREMOCHLOA OPHIUROIDES) FROM SEED

Author
item FERRELL, J - UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
item MURPHY, T - UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
item Webster, Theodore

Submitted to: Weed Technology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/11/2006
Publication Date: 7/1/2006
Citation: Ferrell, J.A., Murphy, T.R., Webster, T.M. 2006. Using preemergence herbicides to improve establishment of centipedegrass (Eremochloa ophiuroides) from seed. Weed Technology. 20:682-687.

Interpretive Summary: Centipedegrass is a warm-season turfgrass that has increased in popularity in recent years. However, more information is needed on the use of herbicides during establishment from seed, particularly in seed and sod production systems. The impending elimination of methyl bromide in 2005 will eliminate the primary method of weed control in sod production systems. The intent of this study was to evaluate crop injury and weed control using some potential herbicide-alternatives to methyl bromide. Previous studies have shown that centipedegrass can tolerate herbicide applications once a sod is established. However, herbicide applications to the slow-establishing and small seeded centipedegrass have been previously avoided. Four herbicides, imazethapyr, imazapic, atrazine, and simazine were applied immediately after seeding centipedegrass. Centipedegrass was tolerant of atrazine and simazine, with variable and sometime significant injury from imazethapyr and imazapic. It was observed that imazethapyr was often the most injurious herbicide to centipedegrass and provided the lowest level of overall weed control. From these data it was observed that atrazine and simazine were the most effective herbicides in that they only minimally injured centipedegrass and controlled both grass and broadleaf weed species. Imazethapyr and imazapic were too highly injurious to permit usage during centipedegrass establishment from seed.

Technical Abstract: Centipedegrass is a warm-season turfgrass that has increased in popularity in recent years. However, more information is needed on the use of herbicides during establishment from seed, particularly in seed and sod production systems. The intent of this study was to evaluate crop injury and weed control for imazethapyr, imazapic, atrazine, and simazine applied immediately after seeding centipedegrass. Centipedegrass injury from atrazine and simazine was <10% at 5 weeks after treatment for all herbicide rates except for the highest rate of simazine (4.4 kg ai/ha)in 2001. Injury from imazethapyr and imazapic at 5 weeks after treatment ranged between 2 and 18% in 2001 and 14 to 50% in 2002. Imazapic provided the highest levels of control of Texas panicum (>74%) and yellow nutsedge (>95%). Atrazine and simazine provided the highest control for crowfootgrass and Florida beggarweed. However, it was observed that imazethapyr was often the most injurious herbicide to centipedegrass and provided the lowest level of overall weed control. From these data it was observed that atrazine and simazine were the most effective herbicides in that they only minimally injured centipedegrass and controlled both grass and broadleaf weed species. Imazethapyr and imazapic were too highly injurious to permit usage during centipedegrass establishment from seed.