Herbicide Effects on Tensile Strength and Rooting of Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) Sod

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine how selected herbicides affect sod tensile strength and rooting of mature and immature turfs of ‘Tifway’ bermudagrass. Both immature and mature turf had 100% ground cover, but only mature turf had tensile strength adequate for harvesting and handling. Sod tensile strength at 2, 4, and 8 weeks after application generally was unaffected by herbicide treatment, although imazapyr killed bermudagrass top growth. Root number and root length initially were depressed by imazapyr, bensulide, napropamide, sethoxydim, and sulfometuron at most rates and intervals tested. Eight weeks after treatment, root length, root number, and sod tensile strength for all treatments, except those with imazapyr, were similar to that of the untreated control.