St. Augustinegrass [Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walt.) Kuntze] sod production involves stolon regeneration from strips left from the previous harvest. Field studies were conducted to evaluate stolon regrowth and rooting following preemergence application of herbicides. Herbicides evaluated were atrazine [6‐chloro‐N‐ethyl‐N'‐(1‐methylethyl)‐1,3,5‐triazine‐2,4‐diamine], dithiopyr [S,S‐dimethyl 2‐(difluoromethyl)‐4‐(2‐methylpropyl)‐6‐(trifluoromethyl)‐3,5‐pyrldinecarbothioate], isoxaben [N‐[3‐(1‐ethyl‐l‐methylpropyl)‐5‐isoxazolyl]‐2,6‐dimethoxybenzamide], metolachlor [2‐chloro‐N‐(2‐ethyl‐6‐methylphenyl)‐N‐(2‐methoxy‐1‐methylethyl) acetarnlde], oxadiazon [3‐[2,4‐dichloro‐5‐(1‐methylethoxy)phenyl]‐5‐(1,1‐dimethylethyl)‐1,3,4‐oxadiazol‐2‐(3H)‐one], pendimethalin [N‐(1‐ethylpropyl)‐3,4‐dimethyl‐2,6‐dinitrobenzenamine] and the combination of metolachlor plus atrazine. Acceptable ‘Floratam’ St. Augustinegrass color was noted following all treatments. Twelve to 24% of the stolons were unrooted 4 to 8 mo after application following treatment with 0.8kg a.i. ha−1 dithiopyr. Five to 22% of the stolons were unrooted 8 mo after treatment with isoxaben at 1.1 kg ha−1 and pendimethalin at 2.2 kg ha−1. Data collected after 8 mo showed stolon rooting to be similar to the untreated for all treatments. Turfgrass density was unaffected or slightly improved (≈25%) by herbicide treatment and was highest with oxadiazon, metolaehlor, and metolachlor plus atrazine treatments. Neither turfgrass tensile strength nor root dry weight was reduced 14 mo after treatment with any of the herbicides evaluated. Although shortterm (2 to 4 mo) negative effects followed dithiopyr, isoxaben, and pendimethalin treatments, long‐term (≥ 8 mo) effects were transient.

Field and greenhouse studies were conducted to evaluate selected PRE-applied herbicides for sprangletop control. In greenhouse studies, oxadiazon and dithiopyr provided excellent (> 89%) red sprangletop (L. filiformis) control. Pendimethalin and metolachlor + atrazine provided good (80–89%) to excellent control for 6 mo and 2 mo during studies 1 and 2, respectively. Isoxaben and atrazine provided poor (< 70%) control during both greenhouse studies. In field studies, good to excellent bearded sprangletop (L. fascicularis) control followed dithiopyr, pendimethalin, metolachlor, and metolachlor + atrazine treatments. Dithiopyr at 0.8 kg ai/ha provided best (> 95%) sprangletop control throughout the 6-mo testing period. Under field conditions, control was inconsistent following oxadiazon with good to excellent control during one study and poor control in another study. Better or equal control than metolachlor + atrazine followed dithiopyr, pendimethalin, and metolachlor alone treatments. Oxadiazon also provided similar or better control than metolachlor+atrazine in three of four studies. Over all studies, dithiopyr provided best sprangletop control, followed by metolachlor, metolachlor + atrazine, pendimethalin, and oxadiazon. Isoxaben and atrazine treatments provided poorest or inconsistent sprangletop control.

Greenhouse studies were conducted at the Univ. of Florida to evaluate the effects of preemergence herbicides on St. Augustinegrass [Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walt.) Kuntze] rooting. Metolachlor, atrazine, metolachlor + atrazine, isoxahen, pendimethalin, dithiopyr, and oxadiazon were applied to soil columns followed by placement of St. Augustinegrass sod on the treated soil. Root elongation and biomass were measured following application. Plants treated with dithiopyr and pendimethalin had no measurable root elongation and root biomass was severely (>70%) reduced at the study's conclusion (33 days). Root biomass was unaffected following isoxaben and oxadiazon treatments, but oxadiazon applied at 3.4 kg·ha-1 reduced root length by 50%. Atrazine at 2.2 kg·ha-1 and metolachlor + atrazine at 2.2 + 2.2 kg·ha-1, did not reduce root length in one study, while the remaining atrazine and metolachlor + atrazine treatments reduced cumulative root length and total root biomass 20% to 60%. Metolachlor at 2.2 kg·ha-1 reduced St. Augustinegrass root biomass by >70% in one of two studies. St. Augustinegrass root elongation rate was linear or quadratic in response to all treatments. However, the rate of root elongation was similar to the untreated control for plants treated with isoxaben or oxadiazon. Chemical names used: 6-chloro-N-ethyl-N'-(l-methylethyl)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine(atrazine);S,S-dimethyl2-(difluoromethyl)-4-(2-methylpropyl)-6-(t∼fluoromethyl)-3,5-pyridinecarbothioate (dithiopyr); N-[3-(1-ethyl-1-methylpropyl)-5-isoxazolyl]-2,6-dimethoxybenzamide (isoxaben); 2-chloro-N-(2-ethyl- 6-methylphenyl)-N-(2-methoxy-1-methylethyl)acetamide (metolachlor); 3-[2,4-dichloro-5-(1-methylethoxy)phenyl]-5-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-(3H)-one (oxadiazon); N-(1-ethylpropyl)-3,4-dimethyl-2,6-dinitrobenzenamine (pendimethalin).

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