Establishment and Management of Seeded Bermudagrass in the Transition Zone Mike Richardson John Boyd Doug Karcher University of Arkansas Mike Richardson John Boyd Doug Karcher University of Arkansas

Challenges facing seeded bermudagrass in the upper transition zones Short growing seasonShort growing season Germination is slow and seedlings are slow to develop - poor competitorsGermination is slow and seedlings are slow to develop - poor competitors Warm-season grassy and broadleaf weeds may be difficult to controlWarm-season grassy and broadleaf weeds may be difficult to control Winter injury due to poor development will be a major problem in the first seasonWinter injury due to poor development will be a major problem in the first season Short growing seasonShort growing season Germination is slow and seedlings are slow to develop - poor competitorsGermination is slow and seedlings are slow to develop - poor competitors Warm-season grassy and broadleaf weeds may be difficult to controlWarm-season grassy and broadleaf weeds may be difficult to control Winter injury due to poor development will be a major problem in the first seasonWinter injury due to poor development will be a major problem in the first season

Todays Summary Winter SurvivalWinter Survival –Determine seeding date which optimizes first-year winter survival Weed ControlWeed Control –Develop post-emergent weed control strategies for establishing seeded bermudagrass

Winter Survival Seeding Date Effects on First-year Winter Survival

Seeding Date Study (4 x 6) Factorial RCBD Seeding DateSeeding Date 1.15 April 2.15 May 3.15 June 4.15 July CultivarCultivar 1.Jackpot 2.Mirage 3.Mohawk 4.Princess 5.NuMex Sahara 6.Yukon All cultivars seeded at 1.0 lb PLS / 1000 ft 2

Seeding Date Study Evaluations Percent Winter RecoveryPercent Winter Recovery Stolon productionStolon production Rhizome productionRhizome production

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

Effect of cultivar on recovery of seeded bermudagrasses from winter injury (2000) May 1May 15April 15 % recovery b a bbbb a bbbb c a b c c c d

Effect of planting date on recovery of seeded bermudagrasses from winter injury (2000) May 1May 15April 15 % recovery a a a b aa b caa b c

Effect of planting date on recovery of seeded bermudagrasses from winter injury (2000) % recovery MirageMohawkPrincessSaharaYukonJackpot a a b c b a b c a a b c a a b b a a b c aaa b

April 15 planting May 15 planting Mirage Yukon PrincessJackpot Yukon Photo on April 28, 2001

Yukon May 15 July 15 April 15 June 15

Princess May 15 July 15 April 15 June 15

Mirage May 15 June 15 July 15 April 15

Jackpot May 15 July 15 April 15 June 15

Mohawk May 15 July 15 April 15 June 15

Effect of planting date on recovery of seeded bermudagrasses from winter injury (2001) Apr15-May15-Jun15-Jul % recovery MirageMohawkPrincessSaharaYukonJackpot a a b c a a b b a a b c a a b c a a b c a a a a

Early spring green-up by Yukon March 27 th, 2002 Mohawk Princess NuMex Sahara Yukon

April 5 th, 2002 Mohawk Princess NuMex Sahara Yukon

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

Conclusions from seeding date studies Planting prior to June 15 th yielded the best winter recovery Planting prior to June 15 th yielded the best winter recovery Early planting yielded more, larger stolons Early planting yielded more, larger stolons Genetics over-compensated for planting date in the case of Yukon Genetics over-compensated for planting date in the case of Yukon

Postemergence Herbicide Tolerance of Seedling Bermudagrass Weed Control - Postemerge

Princess was seeded at 1.0 lb. / 1000 ft2 on June 3, 2001 and May 30, 2002 Princess was seeded at 1.0 lb. / 1000 ft2 on June 3, 2001 and May 30, 2002 Herbicides were applied at label rates at 1, 2, and 4 weeks after emergence: Herbicides were applied at label rates 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 application of herbicides Herbicide injury ratings were taken frequently after application of herbicides Postemergence Methods (field study)

Injury on seedling bermudagrass, as affected by herbicide and timing of application after emergence (average of all rating dates) a a b Herbicide injury

Days after treatment Herbicide injury Grass herbicides Herbicide injury on Princess bermudagrass across all application timings (1, 2, and 4 weeks after emergence) across all application timings (1, 2, and 4 weeks after emergence)

Grass herbicides Days after treatment Herbicide injury Broadleaf herbicides Herbicide injury on Princess bermudagrass across all application timings (1,2, and 4 weeks after emergence) across all application timings (1,2, and 4 weeks after emergence)

Control Dicamba 2,4-D Metsulfuron Herbicide injury (applied at 4 weeks after emergence)

Multiple cultivars of bermudagrass were seeded at 1.0 lb. / 1000 ft 2 Multiple cultivars of bermudagrass were seeded at 1.0 lb. / 1000 ft 2 The following herbicides were applied at label rates at 1, 2, and 4 weeks after emergence: The following herbicides were applied at label rates 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 application of herbicidesHerbicide injury ratings were taken frequently after application of herbicides Postemergence Methods (greenhouse study)

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

Conclusions and outlook Field and greenhouse data indicate a good tolerance of seedling bermudagrass to common postemergence herbicides Field and greenhouse data indicate a good tolerance of seedling bermudagrass to common postemergence herbicides Diclofop (Illoxan) injured bermudagrass seedlings more than other herbicides in both GH and field trials Diclofop (Illoxan) injured bermudagrass seedlings more than other herbicides in both GH and field trials

Acknowledgements USGAGCSAA GCSAA – Arkansas Johnston Seeds Seeds West Simplot International Seeds

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

Hope to see you there ! University of Arkansas Field Day August 6, Fayetteville