Cultivar, Mowing Height, and Herbicide Effects on Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) Suppression in Tall Fescue (Schedonorus phoenix).

A study is currently being conducted at the Western Kentucky University Farm in Bowling Green, KY to research the effects of cultivar, mowing height, and herbicide treatment in the suppression of bermudagrass, Cynodon dactylon [L.] Pers. var. dactylon x c. transvaalensis Burtt-Davy, in plots of tall fescue, Schedonorus phoenix (Scop.) Holub. The experimental design was a split, split plot design. Whole plots consisted of two tall fescue varieties/cultivars; ‘KY 31’ and ‘Bullseye’. Split plots consisted of three mowing heights; 7.62 cm, 10.16 cm, and 12.7 cm. Split, split plots consisted of a control and seven herbicide treatments including: glyphosate, fluazifop, fenoxaprop, and mesotrione. The size of each plot is 1.22 m x 1.83 m. On September 8, 2011 each cultivar was seeded at a rate of 3.16 kg/92.9 m² into an existing mixed bermudagrass stand. On September 15^th, germination of both cultivars was visible. Ammonium Nitrate (NH₄NO₃) was applied on October 3^rd at a rate of 0.45 kg N/92.9 m². From September 8, 2011 through November 1, 2011 data were collected every 14 days to measure turf quality within the variables of cultivars, mowing height, and herbicide treatment. There were highly significant differences in turf quality between herbicide treatments and mowing heights within each cultivar. There were significant differences in tall fescue cover data recorded on November 1, 2011. Also, significant differences were observed in broadleaf weed coverage among mowing heights and herbicide treatments. Initial data suggests that mowing height, and herbicide treatments affect turf quality and tall fescue establishment in bermudagrass. This is an ongoing study with scheduled herbicide treatments to be applied in summer of 2012. Further information is expected to be ascertained prior to the conclusion of this research.