Daniel Earlywine1, Travis Teuton1, John C. Sorochan2, Brad Fresenburg1, Reid Smeda1, and Laura Sweets1. (1) Plant Sciences, University of Missouri-Columbia, 110 Waters Hall, Columbia, MO 65211, (2) Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee, 2431 Joe Johnson Drive, 252 Ellington Plant Science Building, Knoxville, TN 37996-4561
Yellow mustard meal (Sinapis alba L.) has shown potential for use as a organic soil fumigant. The objective of this research was to determine if yellow mustard seed meal (MSM) can be used for controlling common turfgrass weeds. Three greenhouse studies in 2006 and 2007 were conducted at the University of Missouri, Columbia, MO. Treatments consisted of MSM applied at 0, 170, 340, 670, 1010, 1350, 1680, 2020, 2350, 2700, 3030, and 3360 kg/ha and sealed with polyethylene bags (tarped) for 7 days. Also, MSM was applied at 0, 1350, 2350, and 3360 kg/ha and left untarped. All treatment were compared to dazomet at 390 kg/ha tarped and untarped. Weeds evaluated in first two experiments were annual bluegrass (Poa annua), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), tall fescue (Lolium arundinacea), common chickweed (Stellaria media), broadleaf plantain (Plantago major), and white clover (Trifolium repens). In the third experiment, common bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) and large crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis) were evaluated. In the first greenhouse experiment, tarped MSM treatments at 1680 kg/ha controlled all weeds >73%, except tall fescue at 1680 and 2020 kg/ha and perennial rye at 1680 and 3030 kg/ha. Untarped MSM treatments were inconsistent; however untarped MSM at 3360 kg/ha controlled all weeds >66%. In the second greenhouse experiment, tarped MSM treatments >1350 kg/ha provided >73% control for all weeds except white clover (63%) at 1680 kg/ha. Also, untarped treatments >2350 kg/ha controlled weeds >73% except white clover (60%). In the third green house experiment, MSM did not control common bermudagrass (<10%) at any MSM rate regardless of tarping. MSM controlled large crabgrass >72% at rates >2700 kg/ha. In all experiments dazomet completely controlled (100%) all weeds. MSM has the potential to control several weed species, however more testing is needed to establish use rates and plant-back intervals.