Methiozolin and Cumyluron for Preemergence Annual Bluegrass (Poa annua) Control on Creeping Bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera) Putting Greens

Abstract

Methiozolin and cumyluron are experimental herbicides that are reported to control annual bluegrass PRE or POST; however, no studies have compared these new herbicides to currently-registered herbicides for annual bluegrass control on putting greens over multiple years. Studies were conducted on three Virginia putting greens for 2 yr to compare methiozolin and cumyluron each at two rates to bensulide and bensulide plus oxadiazon at labeled rates for effects on annual bluegrass and creeping bentgrass cover, turf injury, normalized difference vegetative index (NDVI), turf quality, and annual bluegrass seedhead suppression. Methiozolin, cumyluron, bensulide, and bensulide plus oxadiazon did not significantly injure creeping bentgrass putting green turf, reduce quality, or reduce NDVI. Only methiozolin at 500 or 750 g ai ha−1 and cumyluron at 8,600 g ai ha−1 reduced area under the progress curve (AUPC) for annual bluegrass cover following four treatments over 2 yr applied in spring and fall each year. A concomitant increase in creeping bentgrass cover AUPC was also observed from the three treatments that reduced annual bluegrass cover. Methiozolin also reduced annual bluegrass seedhead cover at least 85% 1 mo after spring treatments and more than all other treatments except cumyluron at 8,600 g ha−1 (66%). These studies suggest that single treatments of methiozolin in spring and fall will not rapidly control existing annual bluegrass but can slowly reduce populations over time, presumably by preventing new seedling emergence. Methiozolin and cumyluron appear to be more effective than currently available herbicides bensulide and bensulide plus oxadiazon for PRE annual bluegrass control and seedhead suppression on golf putting greens.