SportsTurf provides current, practical and technical content on issues relevant to sports turf managers, including facilities managers. Most readers are athletic field managers from the professional level through parks and recreation, universities.
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FieldScience | J.T. Brosnan and G.K. Breeden >> SUMMER SOFTBALL CAMP at the University of Tennessee's Sherri Parker Lee Stadium. Photo taken at the 2011 STMA Regional Conference in Knoxville. New herbicides for 2012 N EW HERBICIDES are continually being introduced into the marketplace. Many of these new herbicides may ben- efit sports field managers maintaining cool- and warm-season turfgrass athletic fields. The follow- ing information outlines several herbicides that entered the marketplace in 2011 as well as other materials that will be introduced in 2012. Specticle (active ingredient is indaziflam) is a new preemergence herbicide from Bayer En- vironmental Sciences that was originally re- leased for commercial sale in 2011. Specticle is labeled for use on warm-season turf at rates of 2.5 to 5 oz/A. This herbicide is not labeled for use on seashore paspalum (Paspalum vagina- tum); thus, turfgrass managers with seashore paspalum athletic fields (or bermudagrass fields heavily infested with seashore paspalum) should select an alternative herbicide for preemergence weed control. Research at the University of Tennessee has found that Specticle provides effective preemer- gence control of crabgrass (Digitaria spp.), annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and goosegrass (Eleusine in- dica) at lower use rates than traditional preemer- gence herbicides. Research conducted in 2011 at Tennessee illustrated that Specticle provides poste- mergence control of non-tillered smooth crabgrass similar to Dimension (active ingredient is dithiopyr). Data also suggest that Specticle pro- vides postemergence control of non-tillered an- nual bluegrass as well. Individuals should use caution when applying Specticle to athletic field turf. This herbicide has a longer residual than other preemergence herbi- 16 SportsTurf | February 2012 cides, which could be problematic in high wear areas. There are label restrictions pertaining to not only overseeding but establishing new warm-sea- son turfgrass from stolons/sprigs or sod. Label re- strictions also prevent turfgrass managers from overseeding with perennial ryegrass for 8 to 12 months after treatment with Specticle. Further- more, the product label currently states that tur- fgrass managers must delay sprigging or sodding for 2 and 4 months after application, respectively (Anonymous, 2010). Tribute Total is a new postemergence herbi- cide from Bayer Environmental Sciences that will be introduced for commercial sale in 2012. Trib- ute Total will be labeled for use in warm-season turfgrass only. Research at the University of Ten- nessee has found fall applications of Tribute Total to control dallisgrass (Paspalum dilatatum) similar to MSMA. Studies have also shown Tribute Total to be an effective option for yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus) and Virginia buttonweed (Diodia virginiana) control, as well as annual bluegrass and overseeded perennial ryegrass. Xonerate (active ingredient is amicar- bazone) is a new postemergence herbicide from Arysta LifeSciences that will be introduced for commercial sale in 2012. Xonerate will be la- beled for use on mature Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), tall fescue, and bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.) among other cool- and warm-season species. Application rates for Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and tall fescue range from 2 to 4 oz/A, while this herbicide can be applied to bermudagrass at rates of 3 to 10 oz/A. Research at Tennessee has found single appli- cations of amicarbazone to effectively control sev- eral winter annual broadleaf weed species at 7.5 oz/A, along with sequential applications at rates greater than 5 oz/A. Tank mixtures of amicar- bazone + prodiamine applied in spring have also been shown to provide postemergence control of winter annual weeds and preemergence control of smooth crabgrass. Xonerate will be marketed for selective an- nual bluegrass control in labeled cool- and warm-season turf species. Effective control pro- grams may require sequential applications. Sports field managers should apply Xonerate in the spring of the year after annual bluegrass has resumed active growth. Research data in Ten- nessee and Georgia suggest that fall applications should be avoided. Labeling also restricts Xon- erate applications when daytime air tempera- tures are expected to exceed 85°F. Studies at the University of Tennessee in 2011 illustrated that a single application of Xonerate plus Tenacity (active ingredient is mesotrione) controlled annual bluegrass similar to sequential applications of Tenacity alone. This concept will be researched in further detail in 2012. Many of these herbicides will provide athletic field managers with new options for weed control in 2012. Always refer to the product label for spe- cific information on proper use, tank-mixing compatibility and turfgrass tolerance. Mention of trade names or commercial prod- ucts in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the University of Tennessee's Institute of Agriculture. For more information on turfgrass weed control, visit the University of Tennessee's turfgrass weed science website at www.tennesseeturfgrass weeds.org. ■ References Anonymous. 2010. Specticle 20 WSP herbicide label. Bayer Environmental Sciences. Research Triangle Park, NC. Available at: http://www.backedbybayer.com Dr. Jim Brosnan is assistant professor, turfgrass weed science, and a co-director of the University of Tennessee's Center for Athletic Field Safety. Greg Breeden is weed science extension assistant at U of T in Knoxville. www.sportsturfonline.com By