Reduction in Active Ingredient of a Broadleaf Herbicide with the Addition of Novel Adjuvants.

Growing societal concern has resulted in pressure to reduce pesticide use in urban environments. Four separate field trials conducted from 2006 through 2007, assessed the ability of novel adjuvants used in conjunction with reduced rates of a traditional three-way selective herbicide (2,4-D + dicamba + MCPP) to control broadleaf weeds in lawn turf. When applied without traditional herbicide the adjuvants had no herbicidal activity at all rates tested although a significant reduction in turfgrass color as measured by chlorophyll index and NDVI was observed with increasing rates of the adjuvants 7-14 days after treatment DAT. This reduction in color was no longer discernable 28 DAT. Early experiments identified adjuvants that restored full efficacy of the herbicide at 12.5% of the traditional rate. These adjuvants were then formulated to create the PC Turf Product and this new product was tested against a traditional three-way selective herbicide standard (2,4-D + dicamba + MCPP). There was a significant decrease in dandelion, black medick, chickweed, and total weed cover post-treatment. The higher rates of PC Turf product (100 and 187 ml m ^-2) produced the best total weed control, and the top rates were not significantly different from the standard. The low rates (28 ml m ^-2) were not significantly different from the control in total weed cover. The addition of novel adjuvants allowed for a decrease in total active ingredient needed to control broadleaf weeds in lawn turf and could be used as part of a pesticide reduction program.