PGRs on Overseeded Hybrid Bermudagrass Tee and Fairway Turf

A. R. Mazur

Introduction

Hybrid bermudagrass is the standard turfgrass for golf course tee turf in the Southern United States. Hybrid bermudagrass provides high quality with proper management during the warm months; however, it must be overseeded during the winter to provide green color and resilient playing surfaces. Plant growth regulators (PGRs) provide the potential to reduce bermudagrass competition during the Fall transition as well as enhance turfgrass color, reduce mowing and reduce fertilizer requirements. Some PGRs have also shown a potential to control invasion and/or survival of annual bluegrass, a major weed species in turf.

Objectives

Determine the influence of several plant growth regulators on the quality, maintenance, and weed control on overseeded bermudagrass tee turf.

Procedures

PGR treatments included paclobutrazole and cyclohydroxymethylene. The PGRs were applied as per label recommendations. Treatments were applied to a Tifway (419) hybrid bermudagrass tee mowed at ". The tee was overseeded with annual bluegrass on 9/15/95 at a rate of 1 lb per 1000 sq. Ft. to insure a uniform weed population. The tee received a 4 lb N (methylene urea), 1 lb P205 and 2 lb K20 from a complete fertilizer. The tee received standard cultural practices to include thatching and aeration. Turf was irrigated to avoid wilt. The tee was overseeded with Yorktown II perennial ryegrass at the rate of 14.4 lb per 1000 sq. Ft. on 10/11/95 using standard overseeding practices.

Results

Data collection is still under way.