Greg Breeden, University of Tennessee-Knoxville, 252 Ellington Plant Science Building, 2431 Joe Johnson Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996-4561 and J. Scott McElroy, 2431 Joe Johnson Dr, University of Tennessee-Knoxville, University of Tennessee, Plant Sciences Dept./ 252 Plant Sciences Bldg, Knoxville, TN 37996-4561.
Overseeding bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) is a common practice on sports fields and golf course fairways. In overseeded bermudagrass herbicide options for annual bluegrass (Poa annua) control are limited. Trials were conducted in 2006 at Rockford, TN to evaluate annual bluegrass control in overseeded bermudagrass. Seed head counts per square foot (sh/sq ft) were taken as a proxy measurement to visual control. Treatments that included ethofumesate (1.13 kg ai/ha) applied twice and bispyribac-sodium (0.07 kg ai/ha) applied twice reduced annual bluegrass seedheads to less than 3 sh/sq ft; compared to 107 sh/sq ft in the nontreated. However, treatments that included bispyribac-sodium (0.07 kg ai/ha) applied twice reduced perennial ryegrass coverage up to 76 % 10 weeks after the second application. Treatments that included ethofumesate (1.13 kg ai/ha) did not reduce perennial ryegrass coverage when compared to the nontreated. While foramsulfuron applied 14 days prior to overseeding did reduce seed heads approximately 50%, foramsulfuron did not provide adequate annual bluegrass control. After trial initiation, the foramsulfuron label has been changed to allow for 7 days prior to overseeding, which potentially could improve control. No treatments reduced bermudagrass green up.