Goosegrass (Eleusine indica) Control during Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) Establishment

• Published in: Weed science 1981-01, Vol.29 (1), p.11-16
• Main Authors: Bingham, S. W., Shaver, R. L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Herbicides; Overwintering; Plants; Stolons; Summer; Test ranges; Trajectory control; Treatment programs; Turf grasses
• ISSN: 0043-1745; 1550-2759
• DOI: 10.1017/S0043174500025741

Oxadiazon [2-tert-butyl-4-(2,4-dichloro-5-isopropoxyphenyl)-δ2-1,3,4-oxadiazolin-5-one] applied early enough for large crabgrass [Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop.] control provided full season goosegrass [Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn.] control during bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. ‘Midiron’ and ‘Tufcoat’] establishment from sod strips. Prosulfalin {N-[[4-(dipropylamino)-3,5-dinitrophenyl]sulfonyl]-S,S-dimethylsulfilimine}, DCPA (dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate), pendimethalin [N-(1-ethylpropyl)-3,4-dimethyl-2,6-dinitrobenzenamine] and bensulide [0,0-diisopropyl phosphorodithioate S-ester with N-(2-mercaptoethyl)benzenesulfonamide] gave full season goosegrass control in well-established Midiron bermudagrass, but not during the initial establishment period where open bare soil was present. Napropamide [2-(α-naphthoxy)-N,N-diethylpropionamide] provided long term residual control of goosegrass with some interference with rooting of bermudagrass from stolon nodes. Winter survival of Midiron bermudagrass was superior to Tufcoat bermudagrass. Controlling annual grasses permitted superior bermudagrass growth, and winter survival was improved tremendously. Postemergence goosegrass control was obtained with MSMA (monosodium methanearsonate) and methazole [2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazolidine-3,5-dione] when repeated several times during the season. A mixture of MSMA and methazole was superior to either used alone. The rate of bermudagrass establishment was increased through the control of goosegrass with herbicides.