Dithiopyr Plus Fenoxaprop for Postemergent Crabgrass (Digitaria species) Control Michael W. Melichar, Anita L. Alexander, Daniel L. Loughner and Michelle S. Smith Dow AgroSciences LLC
Dithiopyr Plus Fenoxaprop for Postemergent Crabgrass Control Research Justification Dithiopyr is labeled for preemergent crabgrass control in turfgrass Typical applications occur in spring prior to or just after (1-5 leaf stage) crabgrass emergence Fenoxaprop is labeled for postemergent crabgrass control in turfgrass Typical applications occur in late spring or early summer after crabgrass emergence Little research has been conducted with early postemergent (1-3 and 3-5 tiller stage) application of reduced rates of dithiopyr and fenoxaprop for crabgrass control
Dithiopyr Plus Fenoxaprop for Postemergent Crabgrass Control Key Question – Will postemergent application of reduced rates dithiopyr + fenoxaprop provide crabgrass control comparable to X rate of fenoxaprop? Trial Locations CT, IN, MI, NJ, NC, PA (2) Methods Plots; 1.5M X 1.5M Replications; 3 Application Equipment; CO2 Backpack Sprayer Statistical Analysis Combined data from three trials ANOVA with Tukey means comparison test to determine differences between treatment means (p<.05)
Dithiopyr Plus Fenoxaprop for Postemergent Crabgrass Control Key Findings 1 to 3 Tiller Stage Reduced rates of dithiopyr @ 140 g ai/Ha + fenoxaprop @ 70 g ai/Ha and dithiopyr @ 140 g ai/Ha + fenoxaprop @ 100 g ai/Ha provided comparable crabgrass control to the X rate of fenoxaprop @ 140 g ai/Ha 3 to 5 Tiller Stage
Dithiopyr Plus Fenoxaprop for Postemergent Crabgrass Control Treatment List - Dithiopyr @ 200 g ai/Ha @ 1 – 3 Tiller - Dithiopyr @ 280 g ai/Ha @ 1 – 3 Tiller - Fenoxaprop @ 140 g ai/Ha @ 1 – 3 Tiller - Dithiopyr @ 140 g ai/Ha + Fenoxaprop @ 70 g ai/Ha @ 1 – 3 Tiller - Dithiopyr @ 140 g ai/Ha + Fenoxaprop @ 100 g ai/Ha @ 1 – 3 Tiller - Dithiopyr @ 200 g ai/Ha @ 3 - 5 Tiller - Dithiopyr @ 280 g ai/Ha @ 3 - 5 Tiller - Fenoxaprop @ 140 g ai/Ha @ 3 - 5 Tiller - Dithiopyr @ 140 g ai/Ha + Fenoxaprop @ 70 g ai/Ha @ 3 – 5 Tiller - Dithiopyr @ 140 g ai/Ha + Fenoxaprop @ 100 g ai/Ha @ 3 – 5 Tiller
Crabgrass (Digitaria species)
Crabgrass growth stages 4 leaves 1st tiller
Parts of a Box-Plot + Extreme Value Upper 25% 75th Percentile Response 120 100 Upper 25% 75th Percentile Center 50% 80 Median l Mean 25th Percentile 60 Lower 25% 40 20 + Extreme Value
B A A A A A A B B B
B A A A B
A A A B B
Dithiopyr Plus Fenoxaprop for Postemergent Crabgrass Control Conclusions Reduced rates of dithiopyr + fenoxaprop applied at the 1 to 3 and 3 to 5 tiller stage of crabgrass development provided comparable crabgrass control to the X rate of fenoxaprop Professional lawn care operators and golf course superintendents can confidently apply reduced rates of dithiopyr + fenoxaprop for crabgrass control resulting in savings from the X rate of fenoxaprop