What to Do about Mixed-Species (Heinz 57) Fairways on Golf Courses: Eliminating Perennial Ryegrass with Corsair & Update on Controlling Earthworms Jim Murphy, Ph.D. Dept. of Plant Biology and Pathology
2 or more species Vary in growth rate, density, susceptibility to pests, color and other traits Playability variable and irregular How to reduce the variability and inconsistencies of mixed-species fairway turfs?
Active Ingredient Corsair Chlorsulfuron Perennial ryegrass controlled at 1 to 2 ounces / acre
Fall 2008 0 1 2 4
Objectives for 2009 Assess/confirm tolerance of creeping bentgrass and annual bluegrass to Corsair Note activity on perennial ryegrass Does a suppressive rate exist? Evaluate timing June vs. September
Corsair Studies Forest Hill Field Club Bloomfield, NJ Echo Lake Country Club Westfield, NJ Annual bluegrass Creeping bentgrass Perennial ryegrass Creeping bentgrass Colonial bentgrass Perennial ryegrass Annual bluegrass
We are proposing to determine the feasibility of using Corsair herbicide in conjunction with creeping bentgrass overseeding to replace perennial ryegrass in mixed-species fairway turf. Overseeding is needed on fairways with a large population of perennial ryegrass or a very limited population of creeping bentgrass
Corsair Treatments Initiated 8 June 2009 1 oz /acre 1 app 2 oz / acre 1 app ⅓ oz /acre 3 apps ⅔ oz / acre 2 apps 0 oz / acre control 3 week interval between apps Initiated 8 September 2009 1 oz /acre 1 app 2 oz / acre 1 app ⅓ oz /acre 3 apps ⅔ oz / acre 2 apps 0 oz / acre control 3 week interval between apps
Appears safe for taking perennial ryegrass out of bentgrass
Non-treated Corsair in September Rates of ⅓, ⅔, 1, & 2 oz
September greater efficacy than June Need to observe perennial ryegrass re-growth in 2010
Sept overseeding unsuccessful Sensitivity observed in annual bluegrass
Corsair Treatments 2 nd Study Initiated 8 September 2009 1 oz /acre 1 app ½ oz / acre 2 apps ¼ oz /acre 4 apps ⅛ oz / acre 4 apps 0 oz / acre control
¼ 1 ½ ⅛ ½ 0
Initiated Corsair on 8 September 2009 0 ⅛ Still looking for a suppressive rate Will explore rates < ⅛ oz per acre in 2010
Additionally, we propose to further study the feasibility of using soil acidification to reduce annual bluegrass from mixed-species stands, using acidification procedures that minimize scorch. We need to confirm that this approach is effective over a broader number of locations.
Update on Controlling Earthworms Casting
Fertilizers Lime increase ph Sulfur decrease ph Topdressing (sand) Combination of sulfur and topdressing
Fertilizer Analysis Milorganite 6-2-0 OceanGro 5-5-0 Earthworks 3-4-3 Meth-Ex 40-0-0 SCU 38-0-0 IBDU 31-0-0 Urea 46-0-0 Ammonium Sulfate 21-0-0 Ammonium Nitrate 31-0-0
Fertilizer effect not evident until 3 rd season Organic fertilizers doubled castings compared to synthetic fertilizer. No differences among fertilizer where casting Meadow Brook HC was very active previously at the a start problem of the trial.
Liming produced a very small increase in castings in the trial at MBHC. Liming had no effect on casting at KCC where casting was already very active.
Casting was reduced by as much as 50% after three seasons of topdressing at KCC where casting was very active. Knollwood CC Topdressing had no effect on casting at MBHC Existing Problem Suppression where casting activity was already very low.
Elemental Sulfur Elemental S reduced casting within the first season at both golf courses. Reduced casting as much as 97% compared to untreated plots.
Not Treated Sulfur treated 28 September 2007
Unfortunately, potential to scorch turf with S (strong acidifying amendment) 3 pounds per 1000-ft 2 of 90% S per app during spring or late summer without scorching Scorch after 2 apps of sulfur at 9 lb/m
Elemental Sulfur Important: use dispersible micro-granular or wettable powder formulation of S Avoid large sulfur granules, concentrates too much S in one spot and likely to scorch turf around those granules. Scorch is slow to develop and takes a while to dissipate.
Thanks for Your Time All the Best for 2010