Effect of weed management and methods of planting on weed population and establishment of turf grasses

Abstract

The scientific management of weeds and effective establishment of grasses are the thrust areas of research in turf grass cultivation. Therefore, an investigation was carried out during 2018-19 at Kittur Rani Channamma College of Horticulture, Arabhavi, University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot, Karnataka, India, to evaluate pre-planting weed management methods and to identify best establishment method in turf grasses. The experiment comprised of twelve treatments of which two weed management practices (hand weeding and soil sterilant application); three planting methods (seed sowing at 10g/m2, seed sowing at 5g/m2 and stolon dibbling) and two turf grass species (Mexican grass and Bermuda grass) laid out in factorial Randomised Complete Block Design (RCBD) replicated thrice. The study has revealed that among the two grasses evaluated Bermuda grass var. ‘Tif dwarf’ showed less number of weeds (4.61/m2), early germination or sprouting (7.28 days), high ground cover per cent score (5.00), higher number of nodes (27.03), number of leaves per stolon (30.74) and leaf width (2.69 mm) compared to Mexican grass. Seed sowing method of establishment at 10g/m2 showed a smaller number of weeds per square meter (9.56/m2) and lowest time taken for germination or sprouting (11.00 days). Stolon dibbling was found superior with respect to ground cover per cent score (4.85), number of nodes (27.51) and number of leaves (29.74) while leaf length (23.93 cm), leaf width (2.95 mm) and average leaf area (3.45 cm2) was recorded highest for seed sowing method at 5g/ m2. Among weed management approaches, Dizomet applied plots showed a smaller number of weeds at 40 days after planting (9.68/m2). Stolon dibbling of Bermuda grass var. ‘Tif dwarf’ at 160 days after planting recorded highest values for number of nodes (39.61) and number of leaves (42.78) while seed sowing at 10g/m2 of Bermuda grass var. ‘Tif dwarf’ recorded lowest number of weeds (2.70/m2), lowest days to germination or sprouting (6.17 days) and maximum ground cover per cent score (5).