Use of Foramsufulron (TADS) as a Transition Agent to Remove Poa Trivialis from an Overseeded Tifgreen Bermudagrass Putting Green

Abstract

Five sulfonylurea urea herbicides and one PGR were applied to a Tifgreen bermudagrass putting green to determine their response as spring applied transition aids to enhance the removal of Poa trivialis ovrseed. All sufonyl urea herbicide caused marginal to extreme injury to Poa trivialis by 9 DAT, which lasted at least a minimum of 3 weeks. Manor caused the least amount of injury and discoloration, but had little effect in promoting the transition back to bermudagrass. Tranxit caused extreme plot injury (leaf bronzing), but forced transition. The injury resulted in unacceptable quality. Embark PGR enhanced transition at 9 DAT only, with acceptable quality. After a second application of Emark, quality was reduced to sub-marginal levels, which was caused by straw colored leaf sheaths. TADS increased Bermuda transition at 9 DAT, but not at 23 DAT, regardless of the addition of fungicides, or not. The addition of fungicides to TADS in general did not affect color, quality or turf transition, with the exception on Jens 7 (38 DAT) when the lower rate (0.10 ounce/p/M) with fungicide had excellent quality (6.8) due to readily observed visual density (7.5). Trifloxysulfuron caused increased transition at 9 DAT only, and developed moderate turf injury, as well as poor turf color at 9 and 23 DAT. All entries produce turfs with good color, quality and density by 31 July. After a standard aerification and topdressing, and fertilization with 1.5 lbs of additional -N- / M. No treatments produced enhanced transition without marginal to unacceptable turf performance. TADS at 0.10 ounce/p/M were safer to the turf than was the 0.20 ounce/p/M rate of TADS.