Non-Chemical Control of Annual Bluegrass (Poa annua) in Bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.) via Fraise Mowing: Efficacy and Barriers to Adoption

Devon E Carroll,Carrie A Stephens,J Bryan Unruh,James T Brosnan,Pablo A Boeri,Chase Mckeithen

doi:10.3390/su13158124

Devon E Carroll, Carrie A Stephens + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/su13158124

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Abstract

Fraise mowing is a maintenance practice that may serve as a non-chemical means of controlling the problematic weed annual bluegrass (Poa annua L.) in bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.) given reports of efficacy on other turfgrass species. However, an understanding of practitioner decision-making in implementing fraise mowing as a weed-control measure remains unknown. A field study was conducted in Knoxville, TN and repeated in space in Jay, FL during summer 2019 to assess bermudagrass regrowth and subsequent annual bluegrass control, following fraise mowing at depths of 1.5 and 3.0 cm compared to a non-treated check (0 cm). Bermudagrass recovered more quickly at the 1.5 cm depth than the 3.0 cm depth and was the swiftest in Florida. Fraise mowing at either depth resulted in a 41–97% reduction in annual bluegrass populations. A qualitative study was conducted in spring 2021, which engaged eight turfgrass managers from Tennessee and Florida via individual interviews in order to understand barriers and challenges to fraise mowing application. Turfgrass managers had positive views of fraise mowing but described challenges in implementation for weed control including cost, labor, area closure, and debris removal.

Highlights

Covering an estimated 163,800 km2 in the United States, turfgrass is the fifth largest crop in acreage, following barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), corn (Zea mays L.), soybean
Bermudagrass regrowth was swiftest at the shallower fraise mowing depth of 1.5 cm (Figure 3)
At the 3.0 cm depth, 50% regrowth was not achieved until 59 days after fraise mowing and bermudagrass required 119 days to reach fully recovery

Summary

Introduction

Covering an estimated 163,800 km in the United States, turfgrass is the fifth largest crop in acreage, following barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), corn (Zea mays L.), soybean L.) [1,2] Management of such an expansive crop has resulted in an estimated industry value of over $80 billion annually and the support of approximately 800,000 jobs [3,4]. Turfgrass is not grown for optimized yield related to human or animal consumption [5], greenspaces of maintained turfgrass have great environmental, societal, and economic benefits [6,7,8,9,10]. A unique benefit of turfgrass compared to other crops with similar environmental and societal impacts is the provision of society with greenspace to enhance physical, social, and mental well-being [6]

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