Abstract
The positive effects of trinexapac-ethyl (TE) on turfgrass growth and tolerance to various types of stress could promote its use in low-input maintenance turfgrasses to reduce the expense associated with mowing. However, there is a general lack of information about TE effects in low maintenance turfgrasses, and especially when used in transition zone turfgrass mixtures. The objective of this study was to evaluate the response of three inter-specific turfgrass mixtures to three different application rates of TE under low maintenance conditions.A 2-year field study was conducted from April 2006 to July 2008 at the Agricultural Experimental Farm of the University of Padova (northern Italy, 45°20′N, 11°57′E, elevation 8 m). Visual turfgrass quality (1–9 scale) and clippings biomass production of three mixtures were evaluated seasonally under four TE treatments with rates representing 0, 0.5, 1.0 or 1.5x the rates indicated on label instructions. Based on both visual quality and biomass production, turfgrass responded differently to TE application depending on dominant species in the mixture. Furthermore, our results suggested that changes over time in turfgrass botanical composition influence visual quality and biomass production through the experimental period. The main effect of TE treatments occurred in biomass production while the effect on turfgrass quality was mainly associated with the two highest TE rates. Application at a rate lower than the labeled seems to be enough for reducing biomass production without affecting turfgrass quality or even, in some seasons, improving it. Finally, we found that the effect of TE seems to weaken over time as turfgrass maturity advances.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.