Establishment and Management of Seeded Bermudagrass

in the Transition Zone

Establishment and Management of Seeded Bermudagrass

in the Transition Zone

Mike RichardsonJohn Boyd

Doug KarcherUniversity of Arkansas

Mike RichardsonJohn Boyd

Doug KarcherUniversity of Arkansas

Challenges facing seeded bermudagrass in Challenges facing seeded bermudagrass in the upper transition zonesthe upper transition zones

Challenges facing seeded bermudagrass in Challenges facing seeded bermudagrass in the upper transition zonesthe upper transition zones

• Short growing seasonShort growing season• Germination is slow and seedlings are Germination is slow and seedlings are

slow to develop - poor competitorsslow to develop - poor competitors• Warm-season grassy and broadleaf Warm-season grassy and broadleaf

weeds may be difficult to controlweeds may be difficult to control• Winter injury due to poor development Winter injury due to poor development

will be a major problem in the first will be a major problem in the first seasonseason

• Short growing seasonShort growing season• Germination is slow and seedlings are Germination is slow and seedlings are

slow to develop - poor competitorsslow to develop - poor competitors• Warm-season grassy and broadleaf Warm-season grassy and broadleaf

weeds may be difficult to controlweeds may be difficult to control• Winter injury due to poor development Winter injury due to poor development

will be a major problem in the first will be a major problem in the first seasonseason

Today’s SummaryToday’s Summary

• Winter SurvivalWinter Survival– Determine seeding date which Determine seeding date which

optimizes first-year winter survivaloptimizes first-year winter survival

• Weed ControlWeed Control

– Develop post-emergent weed Develop post-emergent weed control strategies for establishing control strategies for establishing seeded bermudagrassseeded bermudagrass

Winter SurvivalWinter Survival

Seeding Date Effects on First-year Seeding Date Effects on First-year Winter SurvivalWinter Survival

Seeding Date StudySeeding Date Study(4 x 6) Factorial RCBD(4 x 6) Factorial RCBD

• Seeding DateSeeding Date1.1. 15 April15 April

2.2. 15 May15 May

3.3. 15 June15 June

4.4. 15 July15 July

• CultivarCultivar1.1. JackpotJackpot

2.2. MirageMirage

3.3. MohawkMohawk

4.4. PrincessPrincess

5.5. NuMex SaharaNuMex Sahara

6.6. YukonYukon

All cultivars seeded at 1.0 lb PLS / 1000 ft2

Seeding Date StudySeeding Date StudyEvaluationsEvaluations

• Percent Winter RecoveryPercent Winter Recovery

• Stolon productionStolon production

• Rhizome productionRhizome production

Severe low temperatures in the winter of 2000 caused significant Severe low temperatures in the winter of 2000 caused significant injury to bermudagrass across northern Arkansasinjury to bermudagrass across northern Arkansas

Fayetteville, AR

Effect of cultivar on recovery of seeded Effect of cultivar on recovery of seeded bermudagrasses from winter injury (2000)bermudagrasses from winter injury (2000)

0

20

40

60

80

100

Yukon Jackpot Princess Mohawk Sahara MirageMay 1 May 15April 15

% r

ecov

ery

% r

ecov

ery

b

a

b bb b

a

b b b b

c

a

b

c

c cd

Effect of planting date on recovery of seeded Effect of planting date on recovery of seeded bermudagrasses from winter injury (2000)bermudagrasses from winter injury (2000)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

15-Apr 15-May 15-Jun 15-Jul

May 1 May 15April 15

% r

ecov

ery

% r

ecov

ery

a aa b

a a

b

ca ab

c

Effect of planting date on recovery of seeded Effect of planting date on recovery of seeded bermudagrasses from winter injury (2000)bermudagrasses from winter injury (2000)

0

20

40

60

80

100

15-Apr 15-May 15-Jun 15-Jul

% r

ecov

ery

% r

ecov

ery

MirageMirage MohawkMohawk PrincessPrincess SaharaSahara YukonYukonJackpotJackpot

aa

b

c

ba

b

c

aa

b

c

aa

bb

aa

b

c

aa a

b

April 15 plantingApril 15 planting

May 15 plantingMay 15 planting

Mirage

Yukon

Princess Jackpot

Yukon

Photo on April 28, 2001Photo on April 28, 2001

YukonYukon

May 15May 15

July 15July 15

April 15April 15

June 15June 15

PrincessPrincess

May 15May 15

July 15July 15

April 15April 15

June 15June 15

MirageMirage

May 15May 15

June 15June 15

July 15July 15

April 15April 15

JackpotJackpot

May 15May 15

July 15July 15

April 15April 15

June 15June 15

MohawkMohawk

May 15May 15

July 15July 15

April 15April 15

June 15June 15

Effect of planting date on recovery of seeded Effect of planting date on recovery of seeded bermudagrasses from winter injury (2001)bermudagrasses from winter injury (2001)

0

20

40

60

80

100

15-Apr 15-May 15-Jun 15-Jul

% r

ecov

ery

% r

ecov

ery

MirageMirage MohawkMohawk PrincessPrincess SaharaSahara YukonYukonJackpotJackpot

aa

bc

aa

b b

aa

b

c

a

ab

c

aa

b

c

aa a a

Early spring green-up by YukonEarly spring green-up by Yukon

March 27March 27thth, 2002, 2002

MohawkMohawk

PrincessPrincess NuMex SaharaNuMex Sahara

YukonYukon

April 5April 5thth, 2002, 2002

MohawkMohawk

PrincessPrincess NuMex SaharaNuMex Sahara

YukonYukon

Princess also had very Princess also had very slow green-up and slow green-up and recovery during the 2002 recovery during the 2002 growing season in 1-yr growing season in 1-yr old turfold turf

JackpotJackpotPrincessPrincess

Conclusions from Conclusions from seeding date studiesseeding date studies

Planting prior to June 15Planting prior to June 15thth yielded yielded the best winter recoverythe best winter recovery

Early planting yielded more, larger Early planting yielded more, larger stolonsstolons

Genetics over-compensated for Genetics over-compensated for planting date in the case of ‘Yukon’planting date in the case of ‘Yukon’

Postemergence Herbicide Postemergence Herbicide Tolerance ofTolerance of

Seedling BermudagrassSeedling Bermudagrass

Weed Control - PostemergeWeed Control - Postemerge

Princess was seeded at 1.0 lb. / 1000 ft2 on June Princess was seeded at 1.0 lb. / 1000 ft2 on June 3, 2001 and May 30, 20023, 2001 and May 30, 2002

Herbicides were applied at label rates at 1, 2, and Herbicides were applied at label rates at 1, 2, and 4 weeks after emergence:4 weeks after emergence:• dicambadicamba - Banvel - Banvel• 2,4-D2,4-D - numerous - numerous• clopyralidclopyralid - Lontrel - Lontrel• quincloracquinclorac - Drive - Drive• MSMAMSMA – MSMA 6.6 – MSMA 6.6• metsulfuronmetsulfuron - Manor - Manor• diclofopdiclofop - Illoxan - Illoxan

Herbicide injury ratings were taken frequently Herbicide injury ratings were taken frequently after application of herbicidesafter application of herbicides

Postemergence MethodsPostemergence Methods(field study)(field study)

0

1

2

3

4

5

1WAE

2WAE

3WAE

Injury on seedling bermudagrass, as affected by herbicide Injury on seedling bermudagrass, as affected by herbicide and timing of application after emergenceand timing of application after emergence

(average of all rating dates)(average of all rating dates)

aa

b

Her

bic

ide

inju

ry

0123456789

0 3 5 7 15 30 60

control diclofop metsulfuron MSMA

Days after treatment

Her

bic

ide

inju

r y

Grass herbicides

Herbicide injury on Princess bermudagrassHerbicide injury on Princess bermudagrass across all application timings (1, 2, and 4 weeks after across all application timings (1, 2, and 4 weeks after emergence)emergence)

Grass herbicides

0123456789

0 3 5 7 15 30 60

2,4-D dicamba quinclorac clopyralid

Days after treatment

Her

bic

ide

inju

r y

Broadleaf herbicides

Herbicide injury on Princess bermudagrassHerbicide injury on Princess bermudagrass across all application timings (1,2, and 4 weeks after across all application timings (1,2, and 4 weeks after emergence)emergence)

Control

Dicamba

2,4-D

Metsulfuron

Herbicide injury (applied at 4 weeks after emergence)Herbicide injury (applied at 4 weeks after emergence)

Multiple cultivars of bermudagrassMultiple cultivars of bermudagrass were seeded at were seeded at 1.0 lb. / 1000 ft1.0 lb. / 1000 ft22

The following herbicides were applied at label rates The following herbicides were applied at label rates at 1, 2, and 4 weeks after emergence:at 1, 2, and 4 weeks after emergence:• Dicamba - BanvelDicamba - Banvel• 2,4-D - numerous2,4-D - numerous• Clopyralid - LontrelClopyralid - Lontrel• Quinclorac - DriveQuinclorac - Drive• MSMA – MSMA 6.6MSMA – MSMA 6.6• Metsulfuron - ManorMetsulfuron - Manor• Diclofop - IlloxanDiclofop - Illoxan

• Herbicide injury ratings were taken frequently after Herbicide injury ratings were taken frequently after application of herbicidesapplication of herbicides

Postemergence MethodsPostemergence Methods(greenhouse study)(greenhouse study)

Interactive effects of herbicide and cultivar on Interactive effects of herbicide and cultivar on herbicide injury of seeded bermudagrassesherbicide injury of seeded bermudagrasses

Conclusions and outlookConclusions and outlook Field and greenhouse data indicate a good Field and greenhouse data indicate a good

tolerance of seedling bermudagrass to tolerance of seedling bermudagrass to common postemergence herbicidescommon postemergence herbicides

Diclofop (Illoxan) injured bermudagrass Diclofop (Illoxan) injured bermudagrass seedlings more than other herbicides in seedlings more than other herbicides in both GH and field trialsboth GH and field trials

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgementsUSGAUSGA

GCSAAGCSAAGCSAA – ArkansasGCSAA – Arkansas

Johnston SeedsJohnston SeedsSeeds WestSeeds West

SimplotSimplotInternational SeedsInternational Seeds

Special thanks to John McCalla, my research Special thanks to John McCalla, my research specialist, who really does all the work…specialist, who really does all the work…

Hope to see you there !Hope to see you there !

University of Arkansas Field DayUniversity of Arkansas Field DayAugust 6, 2002 - FayettevilleAugust 6, 2002 - Fayetteville