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- Author or Editor: Nick E. Christians x
Abstract
A turfgrass blend of ‘Parade’, ‘Adelphi’, ‘Glade’, and ‘Rugby’ Kentucky bluegrasses (Poa pratensis L.) was treated with N-[2,4-dimethyl-5-[[(trifluromethyl) sulfonyl] phenyl] acetamide (mefluidide) at 0.28 and 0.56 kg ha−1; (2-chloroethyl) phosphonic acid (ethephon) at 2.24, 4.48, and 6.72 kg ha−1; 5-(4-chlorophenyl)-3,4,5,9,10-pentaaza-tetracyclo [5,4,1,02,6,08,11]dodeca-3,9-diene (BAS 106 00 W) at 1.68, 3.36, and 5.04 kg ha−1, and α-(1-methylethyl)-α-[4-(trifluromethoxy) phenyl]-5-pyrimidinemethanol (EL-500) at 0.84, 1.21, and 1.40 kg ha−1 in field and greenhouse studies. Each of the materials investigated was effective in retarding Kentucky bluegrass growth in field studies. However, effects on growth inhibition and turfgrass quality varied between years. Ethephon was the only material not effective in reducing clipping yield in the greenhouse, whereas none of the growth retardants inhibited root organic matter production or rhizome weight in the greenhouse study.
Corn gluten hydrolysate (CGH) was evaluated in the greenhouse for its herbicidal activity on 19 selected monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous species. Treatments included CGH at 0, 1, 2, 4, and 8 g·dm-2. Plant susceptibility was based on plant survival, shoot length, and root length. The germination and growth of all species were inhibited by the application of CGH at all rates. Black medic (Medicago lupulina L.), buckhorn plaintain (Plantago lanceolata L.), creeping bentgrass (Agrostis palustris Huds.), purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.), and redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.) were the most susceptible species, exhibiting more than 70% reduction in root length, 60% reduction in plant survival, and 52% reduction in shoot length with CGH at 1 g·dm-2. Common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album L.), curly dock (Rumex crispus L.), dandelion (Taraxacum officinale Weber), giant foxtail (Setaria faberi Herrm.), large crabgrass [Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop.], and yellow foxtail [Setaria lutescens (Weigel) Hubb.] exhibited more than 50% reduction in root length and plant survival at 1 g·dm-2. Annual bluegrass (Poa annua L.), barnyardgrass [Echinochloa crusgali (L.) Beauv.], green foxtail [Setaria viridis (L.) Beauv.], orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), quackgrass [Agropyron repens (L.) Beauv.], and velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medic.) survivial was reduced by 60% at 2 g·dm-2. Annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) was the least susceptible species.
Corn (Zea mays L.) gluten meal (CGM) was evaluated under greenhouse conditions for efficacy on 22 selected monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous weed species. Corn gluten meal was applied at 0, 324, 649, and 973 g·m–2 and as a soil-surface preemergence (PRE) and preplant-incorporated (PPI) weed control product. CGM reduced plant survival, shoot length, and root development of all tested species. Black nightshade (Solanum nigrum L.), common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album L.), creeping bentgrass (Agrostis palustris Huds.), curly dock (Rumex crispus L.), purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.), and redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.) were the most susceptible species. Plant survival and root development for these species were reduced by ≥75%, and shoot length was decreased by >50% when treated PRE and PPI with 324 g CGM/m2. Catchweed bedstraw (Galium aparine L.), dandelion (Taraxacum officinale Weber), giant foxtail (Setaria faberi Herrm.), and smooth crabgrass [Digitaria ischaemum (Schreb.) Schreb. ex Muhl] exhibited survival and shoot length reductions >50% and an 80% reduction in root development when treated with PPI CGM at 324 g·m–2. Barnyardgrass [Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv.] and velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medic.) were the least susceptible species showing survival reductions ≤31% when treated with 324 g CGM/m2.
Field and greenhouse studies on the use of a byproduct of the corn (Zea mays L.) wet-milling process, corn gluten meal, have shown that this high-protein fraction of corn grain contains an organic compound that inhibits root formation of a variety of monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous species. Seeds that germinate in a soil media to which corn gluten meal has been added form normal shoots, but no roots. The seedling quickly dies as the media drys. This inhibition of root formation can be timed to prevent the establishment of weeds in turf areas and other plant systems. Corn gluten meal also contains approximately 10% nitrogen and can be used as a natural fertilizer material. Repeated field trials have shown no detrimental effect of the corn gluten meal on mature grass plants. This combination of a natural fertilizer with a natural weed inhibiting compound may result in a `weed and feed' product for those who do not wish to use synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. A patent on the use of corn gluten meal as a weed control was issued in 1991.
It has previously been reported that a byproduct of the corn (Zea mays L.) wet-milling process, corn gluten meal, has potential as a natural preemergence herbicide for use in turf and certain horticultural crops. In 1993, two additional patents were issued on the technology. The first is on the use of hydrolyzed proteins from corn and other grains that were shown to have higher levels of herbicidal activity than the corn gluten meal. These materials are water soluble and can be sprayed on the soils surface. The second patent was on 5 dipeptides extracted from the hydrolyzed corn gluten meal. These dipeptides were shown to have the same type of biological activity observed when the corn gluten meal and the hydrolyzed meal are applied to the soil. The possible use of the hydrolyzed grains and the dipeptides as natural preemergence herbicides in horticultural crops will be discussed.
Abstract
‘Baron’ Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), ‘Kentucky 31’ tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), and ‘Reliant’ hard fescue (Festuca ovina var. duriuscula L. Koch.) were treated with N-[2,4-dimethyl-5-[[(trifluromethyl) sulfonyl] amino] phenyl] acetamide (Mefluidide) at 0.28 and 0.56 kg/ha, (2-chIoroethyI) phosphonic acid (ethephon) at 2.24, 4.48; and 6.72 kg/ha; and 5-(4-chIorophenyl)-3,4,5,9,10-pentaaza-tetracyclo [5,4,1,02’6, 08,11] dodeca-3,9-diene (BAS 106 00 W) at 1.68, 3.36, and 5.04 kg/ha. Similar responses to all rates of mefluidide and BAS 106 00 W, and to the 2.24 kg/ha rate of ethephon were observed for Kentucky bluegrass and hard fescue. Tall fescue shoot growth was reduced by mefluidide and the BAS 106 00 W, but to a lesser extent than the other 2 species, and was not affected by ethephon. Ethephon elongated internodes and shortened leaf blades of Kentucky bluegrass. Ethephon at 2.24 kg/ha reduced Kentucky bluegrass clipping weight and increased root organic matter production without reducing quality.
Abstract
Concentrated solutions of Fluf, Fluf-Plus, Tuf, Fan NPK, Formolene, Maxigro-Plus, urea, and Folian were applied at 12.2, 24.4, and 48.8 kg N/ha with a gravity-fed, spinning disk, liquid applicator to a blend of Kentucky bluegrasses (Poa pratensis L. ‘Adelphi’, ‘Aquila’, ‘Glade’, and ‘Parade’) at times when environmental conditions were conducive to foliar burn. The methylene ureas, including Fluf, Fluf-Plus, and Tuf caused minimal burn at all rates of N. Formolene could be safely applied at 12.2 and 24.4 kg N/ha, and remained marginally acceptable at 48.8 kg N/ha. Fan NPK, urea, and Folian caused unacceptable levels of fertilizer burn at rates greater than 24.4 kg N/ha.
The number of herbicides available for use in strawberry (Fragaria×ananassa Duch.) production is limited. Corn gluten hydrolysate (CGH) is a water-soluble extract of corn gluten meal (CGM), a by-product of corn wet-milling. Both CGH and CGM have been shown to inhibit root development of seedlings and can provide nitrogen (N). Four weed control and/or N- containing products were studied: CGH, CGM, urea (46N-0P-0K), and urea applied with DCPA at 8.4 kg·ha-1 a.i. Treatments were applied at N rates of 0, 9.8, 19.5, and 29.3 g·m-2. The 0 g·m-2 of N treatment served as the control. During the 1995 establishment season, all treatments were applied in June, July, and August. Treatments were applied in July and August during the 1996, 1997, and 1998 growing seasons. Dicot and monocot weed number and weed shoot dry weights were determined ≈30 days after both July and August treatments. Strawberry yield data were collected in June. Leaf N data were collected during the first week of July, before renovation. When CGH was applied in July, dicot weed number in August decreased in one of four years, but CGH never affected the number of monocot weeds. CGM application in July, reduced the number of dicot weeds found in plots in Aug. 1995 and 1998. Urea had no effect on dicot weed number from 1995 to 1997. However, in 1998, dicot weed number was reduced by as much as 79% as the rate of urea increased. In all study years, dicot weed number was reduced between 86% and 97%, for the high rate of DCPA + urea, compared with control plots. With few exceptions, rate of N had no effect on leaf N or yield. CGH exhibited limited potential as a natural weed control product; it reduced dicot weed number in one year, but did not affect the number of monocot weeds in any year. Strawberry yield in plots receiving CGH showed a linear increase in one year (1998), but did not show an increase in the other 2 years. Chemical name used: dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate (DCPA)
Alternative approaches to strawberry production that rely on cultural practices, biological controls, or natural products to reduce or replace off-farm chemical inputs are needed. Driving this growing interest are environmental concerns and rising production costs. Corn gluten meal (CGM), a byproduct of corn wet-milling, has weed-control properties and is a N source. The weed control properties of CGM have been identified in previous studies. The hydrolysate is a water-soluble, concentrated extract of CGM that contains between 10% to 14% N. Our objective was to investigate corn gluten hydrolysate as a weed control product and N source in `Jewel' strawberry production. The field experiment was a randomized complete block with a factorial arrangement of treatments and four replications. Treatments included application of granular CGM, CGM hydrolysate, urea, urea, and DCPA (Dacthal), and a control (no application). Granular CGM and urea were incorporated into the soil at a depth of 2.5 cm at rates of 0, 29, 59, and 88 g N/plot. Plot size was 1 × 3 m. The field experiment was conducted from 1995-1998. The source of nitrogen showed few effects for all variables measuring yield and weed control for all years. In general, the rate of nitrogen had little or no effect on total yield. However, the rate of nitrogen at 88 g N/plot showed an increase in average berry weight, leaf area, leaf dry weight, and weed control.
Corn gluten meal (CGM), a by-product of corn wet-milling, has weed control properties and is a N source. The weed control properties of CGM have been identified in previous studies. The hydrolysate is a water soluble, concentrated extract of CGM that contains between 10% to 14% N. Our objective was to investigate corn gluten hydrolysate as a weed control product and N source in `Jewel' strawberry production. The field experiment was a randomized complete block with a factorial arrangement of treatments with four replications. Treatments included application of granular CGM, CGM hydrolysate, urea, urea and DCPA (Dacthal), and a control (no application). Granular CGM and urea were incorporated into the soil at a depth of 2.5 cm with N at 0, 29, 59, and 88 g/plot. Plot size was 1 × 3 m. Percent weed cover data on 12 Aug. showed plots receiving the 29 g N from CGM hydrolysate had 48% less weed cover than the control (0 g). Plant growth variables showed similar numbers of runners and runner plants among all nitrogen sources.