Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dsjbd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T21:47:11.127Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Impact of cultural factors on weed populations in St. Augustinegrass turf

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Diane L. Johnston
Affiliation:
University of Florida, 3205 College Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314-7719

Abstract

Managing weeds in lawns using cultural practices such as mowing, irrigation, and fertilization may be important in integrated management. A field experiment evaluated the impact of cultural factors on weed populations in St. Augustinegrass turf. Irrigation treatments were daily to replace evapotranspiration (“Daily”), weekly to saturate the root zone only when wilted (“Conditional Weekly”), and as needed to saturate the root zone after severe wilt (“Severely Wilted”). Averaged over 3 yr, the Daily, Conditional Weekly, and Severely Wilted irrigation treatments resulted in 30, 6, and 2% dollarweed cover, respectively. Except for dollarweed and mat lippia, the largest cover of other weeds was under Severely Wilted irrigation. Fertilization rates were 0, 14, or 28 g N m−2 yr−1; in 2002, the highest fertilization rate had the smallest cover of weeds other than dollarweed. Mowing heights were 64, 89, or 114 mm; in 2003, the shortest mowing height had the smallest cover and dry weight of weeds other than dollarweed. After 3 yr of cultural management, most plots were excessively weedy, and turfgrass quality for all cultural management-treatment combinations, in the absence of herbicides, was unacceptable.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Weed Science Society of America 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Literature Cited

Anonymous. 2001. Mobile Irrigation Lab Ninth Annual Report. Florida City, FL: South Dade Soil and Water Conservation District.Google Scholar
Busey, P. 2003. Cultural management of weeds in turfgrass: a review. Crop Sci. 43:18991911.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Christiansen, J. E. 1942. Irrigation by sprinkling. Berkeley, CA: University of California Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin 670.Google Scholar
Gaussoin, R. E. and Branham, B. E. 1989. Influence of cultural factors on species dominance in a mixed stand of annual bluegrass/creeping bentgrass. Crop Sci. 29:480484.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hodges, A. W., Haydu, J. J., van Blokland, P. J., and Bell, A. P. 1994. Contribution of the Turfgrass Industry to Florida's Economy, 1991/92: A Value Added Approach. Gainesville, FL: University of Florida, Food & Resource Economics Department Economic Report ER 94-1.Google Scholar
Jiang, H., Fry, J., and Tisserat, N. 1998. Assessing irrigation management for its effects on disease and weed levels in perennial ryegrass. Crop Sci. 38:440445.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Littell, R. C., Milliken, G. A., Stroup, W. W., and Wolfinger, R. D. 1996. SAS System for Mixed Models. Cary, NC: SAS.Google Scholar
Little, T. M. and Hills, F. J. 1972. Statistical Methods in Research. Davis, CA: University of California.Google Scholar
Qian, Y. L. and Engelke, M. C. 1999. Performance of five turfgrasses under linear gradient irrigation. Hortscience. 34:893896.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stewart, E. H. and Mills, W. C. 1967. Effect of depth to water table and plant density on evapotranspiration rate in southern Florida. Trans. ASAE. 10:746747.Google Scholar
Trenholm, L. E., Cisar, J. L., and Unruh, J. B. 2000. St. Augustinegrass for Florida Lawns. Gainesville, FL: University of Florida, Environmental Horticulture Department Fact Sheet ENH5.Google Scholar
Youngner, V. B., Marsh, A. W., Strohman, R. A., Gibeault, V. A., and Spaulding, S. 1981. Water use and turf quality of warm-season and cool-season turfgrasses. Pages 251257 in Sheard, R. W. ed. Proceedings of the Fourth International Turfgrass Research Conference. Guelph, ON, Canada: Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph, and International Turfgrass Society.Google Scholar