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Vol. 16—1962 - NorthEastern Weed Science Society

Vol. 16—1962 - NorthEastern Weed Science Society

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536<br />

EXPERIMENTS ONTHECHOOCALCOIm'l)LOF<br />

CRABGRASS IN LAWNTURF<br />

Cla;yton M. Switzer *<br />

Considerable variability in the response of' crabgrass (Digitaria"<br />

sPP.) to herbicides has been f~n4 by JI1&ll71nv8StJ,~tors. This variabillt.T<br />

is influenced. by such factors as '.1011moisture, ~w btl'lll1,cI1tT,soil •.<br />

air temperature, soil fertility, tillle of treatment relative to stages of·<br />

growth, and to variety (or species) of this grass. Sinee it is impossible'<br />

for a home owner to control such factors to any great extent, it would cap,:;<br />

pear that the most acceptable crabgrass herbicides will be those that are<br />

effective over the widest range of conditions.<br />

. '<br />

At present it appears that' in general. the p;:-e-emergence crabgr&s.<br />

killers are most effective. While the use of this type' of herbicide fi:ts,'in .<br />

well with the operations of professional gardeners and golf-oourse superintendents,<br />

it has oot been widely ac~epted by the aV'J"llIe homeowner, probably<br />

because of' the tendency of t'he~layman not to.w+.rtY about weeds, i~ects<br />

or diseases until they beeane apparent .to. him. Therefore, investigati~s:on<br />

the cClltrol of crabgrass in turf· should continue to include chemicals capable<br />

of killing this weed after elllersence, as well.4f the pre-emergence materials.<br />

An ideal herbicide woul'l1eeemto be one wtth both pre- and poisi;-;,<br />

8IIlergence activity, and having sufficient residual effect'to make yearly<br />

application unnecessary. .<br />

This paper reports on the results of experSlilentsusing pre- ~<br />

pos1;.;eJllergence chemicals, and on the residual effectiveness of ,SOlll8 of these<br />

chemicals on crabgrass.<br />

I§1'HODS<br />

All experimental work was ~ed out on tIMumpus of the Ontario<br />

Agricultural College. The turf gra'''s were mainly'lentuoky and Cenadablue<br />

with SOIlle oreeping red fescue .end ereepingbent gruil. Plots were 100 sq.'<br />

ft. in area and in most experiments. treatments were replicated 4 times in a<br />

randomized block design. The areas seleoted were OOTeredwith sparse tUrf'<br />

and had bean infested with a hea'V)' orabgrass population the 'year previotj,s ~<br />

treatment. Sprays were applied (100 gal/A) with a knapsack sprayer and<br />

granulars were distributed by meanaof a small fe~1.z.r spreader.<br />

* Associate Professor, DepartmerJt.of Botany, Ontario~rioultural Colle$e,<br />

Guelph, Canada.<br />

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