Methiozolin rate and application frequency influence goosegrass (Eleusine indica) and smooth crabgrass (Digitaria ischaemum) control in turf

Abstract

Methiozolin is labeled for goosegrass and smooth crabgrass control in golf course putting greens, but no peer-reviewed literature exists regarding this use. Greenhouse experiments were conducted evaluating goosegrass and smooth crabgrass response to increasing rates of methiozolin as affected by weed growth stage. In general, as weed growth stage increased, the methiozolin rate required to reduce weed biomass 90% (WR90) increased. Goosegrass was more sensitive to preemergence-applied methiozolin than smooth crabgrass, and the WR90 was 30.4 and 118 g ai ha-1 for goosegrass and smooth crabgrass, respectively. However, smooth crabgrass was generally more sensitive to postemergence-applied methiozolin than goosegrass. Subsequent field studies were conducted to evaluate goosegrass and smooth crabgrass control with methiozolin applied singularly or sequentially at standard preemergence timings. Results indicated methiozolin applied singularly or sequentially at the label-recommended rate (500 g ha-1) is not persistent enough to provide season-long control of goosegrass and smooth crabgrass. Ten field studies were conducted in Alabama, California, Florida and Virginia to evaluate frequent methiozolin application programs with the objective of providing selective, season-long goosegrass and smooth crabgrass control. Results from these studies indicate methiozolin can be safely applied to hybrid bermudagrass and creeping bentgrass putting greens despite exceeding the yearly maximum use rate for putting greens (2500 g ha-1) with some treatments. Methiozolin effectively controlled smooth crabgrass throughout the growing season in California and Virginia when ten biweekly applications were applied at 250 g ha-1 or higher. In Florida, methiozolin did not acceptably (80%) control goosegrass regardless of application rate. In Virginia, methiozolin acceptably controlled goosegrass only when applied at rates and frequencies that exceeded the maximum yearly methiozolin usage rate. These data indicate that methiozolin has the potential to control smooth crabgrass preemergence when applied frequently, but does not provide acceptable goosegrass control at labeled rates.