Plant Growth Regulators to Retard Growth of Bermudagrass and Dallisgrass in the Landscape

Authors

  • Donald L. Cawthon
  • Nick A. Pyle

Keywords:

embark, primo, Cycocel, mefluidide, chlormequat, clipping weights, regrowth rate

Abstract

Three plant growth regulators were applied to a mixed species turf containing common bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.) and dallisgrass (Paspalum dilatatum Poir.). Embark 2-S (mefluidide) (N[2, 4-dimethyl-5-[[(trifluormehtyl)-sulfonyl]amino]phenyl]acetamide) was applied at the rate of 0.75, 1.5, and 3.0 fl oz per 1000 ft2; Primo (4-[cyclopropyl-α-hydroxy-methylene]-3,5-dioxocyclohexanecarboxylic acid ethyl ester) was applied at the rate of 0.38, 0.75, and 1.5 fl oz per 1000 ft2; and Cycocel (chlormequat) ([2-chloroethyl]trimethylammonium chloride) was applied at the rate of 1.88, 3.75, and 7.50 fl oz per 1000 ft2. The treatments were diluted and applied with a pump-up sprayer at the rate of 3 gal per 1000 ft2. Embark and Primo were both effective in reducing weight of clippings and weekly regrowth height of bermudagrass by as much as two-thirds, but were effective for only 3 weeks when applied in early July. Embark and Prim were also less effective in reducing regrowth height of dallisgrass, and Cycocel was ineffective on both species. The regrowth rate of dallisgrass would not allow a reduced number of mowing if visual effectiveness was to be maintained. No phytotoxic effects were observed.

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Published

2016-10-10

How to Cite

Cawthon, D. L., & Pyle, N. A. (2016). Plant Growth Regulators to Retard Growth of Bermudagrass and Dallisgrass in the Landscape. Texas Journal of Agriculture and Natural Resources, 9, 17–22. Retrieved from https://txjanr.agintexas.org/index.php/txjanr/article/view/239

Issue

Section

Research Articles