VATIS UPDATE Article

Researchers from North Carolina State University (NCSU), the United States, and Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service, the United States, have been testing the efficacy of treatment regimens for bermudagrass control that could be used as alternatives to methyl bromide. In the research locations in North Carolina and Texas, applying fluazifop + glyphosate before dazomet was required for acceptable bermudagrass control.

At both locations, this pretreatment followed by tillage-incorporated dazomet at 525 pounds/acre – the maximum labeled rate for soil-incorporation on golf course fairways – resulted in < 10% bermudagrass cover at the final evaluation date. Tarping after tillage did not improve efficacy and, consequently, is not recommended for common bermudagrass renovations in order to save management resources and reduce potential worker ­exposure to dazomet.

Three fluazifop + glyphosate applications resulted in < 5% cover at the final evaluation date and should be considered for renovations where effective dazomet treatment regimens are not feasible. Overall, results from this research suggest golf course superintendents have a difficult yet fairly straightforward decision to make when choosing a bermudagrass control approach. Ultimately, established common bermudagrass can be controlled cheaply or quickly, but not both.