Effects of Three Fertilization Methods on Weed Growth and Herbicide Performance in Soilless Nursery Substrates1

Abstract

AbstractResearch objectives were to determine the effect of fertilization method (incorporation, subdress, and topdress) on weed growth and the performance of preemergence herbicides applied to soilless substrates. Nursery containers were filled with a pine bark:peat substrate and fertilized at two different rates [4.4 and 9.5 kg.m−3 (8.9 and 19.2 lb.yd−3)] via topdressing, subdressing, or incorporating. Containers were treated with either dimethenamid-P for spotted spurge (Euphorbia maculata L.), flumioxazin for eclipta (Eclipta prostrata L.) or prodiamine for large crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis L.). A control was established for each fertilizer rate/placement and weed species that was not treated. Incorporating or subdressing fertilizer resulted in reduced large crabgrass and spotted spurge growth in non-treated containers. Weeds grew larger at the higher fertility rates in both topdress and incorporated treatments but fertilizer rate did not affect growth of spotted spurge or large crabgrass when fertilizers were subdressed. Herbicides generally provided commercially acceptable weed control regardless of fertilizer treatment, but results varied with species. Results suggest that in the absence of herbicides, topdressing may result in greater weed growth compared with subdressing or incorporating fertilizers; however, fertilizer placement will have less impact on herbicide performance if proper herbicides are chosen and applied correctly.Index words: topdress, subdress, incorporate, large crabgrass, eclipta, spotted spurge, preemergenceChemicals used in this study: Flumioxazin (SureGuard®); 2-[7-fluoro-3,4-dihydro-3-oxo-4-(2-propynyl)-2H-1,4-benzoxazin-6-yl]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-isoindole1,3(2H)-dione; Dimethenamid-P (Tower) 2-chloro-N-[(2,4-dimethyl-3-thienyl)-N-(2-methoxy-1-methylethyl)acetamide; Prodiamine (Barricade) 2,4-dinitro-N3, N3-dipropyl-6-(trifluoromethyl)-1,3-benzenediamine (Barricade®)Species used in this study: Large crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis L.); Eclipta (Eclipta prostrata L.); Spotted spurge (Euphorbia maculata L.)