Cultural
Primo-treated Sod: Harvest, Establishment, and Transplant
Summary: Primo applied in combination with Sprint 330 to sod 48 hours prior to harvest provided consistently high quality turf and reduced clipping yields for two weeks following planting. The reduction in foliar growth prevented scalping of the newly planted turf during the first mowing when non-treated areas scalped. The benefit of reduced foliar growth is realized during establishment of newly sodded areas by prevention of damage caused by scalping and the ability to delay the first mowing. In addition to improved turfgrass quality by prevention of scalping, root length and root mass were equivalent in the Primo treated and non-treated areas.
In order to extend the reduced foliar growth advantage provided by pre-harvest Primo treatment beyond two weeks, the sodded areas need to be re-treated with Primo. Sod that was not treated prior to harvest but was later treated with Primo demonstrated reduced clipping yields but quality was slightly reduced compared to the non-treated and pre-harvest Primo treated areas. The optimum performance of sodded areas were the pre-harvest treated followed by a post-plant treatment four weeks after initial pre-harvest treatment. Primo improves early sod establishment by reducing the need to mow thereby preventing scalping problems that frequently occur during establishment of sod on new golf course greens. Moreover, turf quality and rooting are not reduced by the Primo treatments.
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Principal investigator: Larry Stowell, Ph.D.
Cooperators: Jeffery Beardsley, Big Canyon Country Club, Joe Foster, West Coast Turf, Nick Angelucci, Ciba-Geigy
Sponsor: Nick Angelucci, Ciba-Geigy
Evaluation of Primo Rates and Application Timing Strategies for Improved Transition and Turf Quality
Summary: A study was conducted on overseeded common bermudagrass fairways to determine the optimal rate, application timing and frequency of application of Primo to achieve improved Fall transition from common bermudagrass to ryegrass. A similar trial conducted in 1996/97 by the PACE Turfgrass Research Institute indicated that the highest quality overseeded turfgrass resulted when Primo applications (0.5 oz/1000 sq ft) were made at the time of the first ryegrass mowing. To confirm these results, a streamlined version of the study was repeated in 1997/98. Key results include:
- Overall, a single application of the 0.5 oz or 0.75 oz/1000 sq ft rate of Primo L provided the most consistent positive results when the product was applied to ryegrass, 1 - 9 days after the 1st mow. In contrast, applications made according to Primo L label instructions (1-5 days before overseeding) had no positive effects on turfgrass quality. Based on two years of data supporting this conclusion, a change in label application timing recommendations should be considered for the Low Desert, where the unique renovation and overseeding strategies that are practiced may dictate modifications in product use patterns.
- The turf quality improvements were observed 7-8 weeks after Primo applications were made, suggesting that the growth regulator effect of Primo on ryegrass, which typically lasts 4 weeks, only partly contributed to the results. Based on the data, it is likely that Primo applications made at the time of the first mowing caused significant and selective reductions in bermudagrass growth without a similar impact on ryegrass, allowing denser and more vigorous establishment of overseeded ryegrass in the treated plots.
- Primo L treatments (0.5 - 2.0 oz/1000 sq ft) made to bermudagrass, 1 - 14 days before overseeding, had no positive effects on turfgrass quality. Again this was similar to results observed in 1996/97. However, applications made to bermudagrass may be advisable as a green waste management tool.
- Double applications of Primo (an initial treatment of Primo prior to overseeding, followed by a second application after overseeding) did not appear to enhance the chances of improved ryegrass quality under the weather and overseeding conditions experienced in the Low Desert.
- None of the treatments tested caused any negative effect on the Spring transition from ryegrass to bermudagrass. This is in contrast to results seen in the previous year’s study.
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Principal Investigators: Wendy Gelernter, Ph.D. and Larry J. Stowell, Ph.D., CPAg
Cooperator: Mike Kocour, The Springs Club
Sponsors: Hi-Lo Desert Golf Course Superintendents Association and Novartis
Kikuyugrass quality improvement using Primo growth regulator
Summary: Primo, at all rates tested, reduced clipping yields and improved turfgrass quality 28 days after treatment. The amount of clipping reduction increased with increasing rates of Primo. The 0.50 and 0.75 oz Primo/1000 sq ft rates provided 50% reduction in clippings 28 days after treatment (DAT). There was no significant difference between the 0.50 and 0.75 oz/1000 sq ft treatments at the 21 and 28 DAT ratings when clipping yields demonstrated the greatest reductions. Visual turfgrass quality was reduced in all treatments at the 7 and 14 DAT ratings compared to the non-treated check, but, visual quality of the treated plots surpassed the non-treated check at 28 DAT. Based upon these results, the 0.5 oz/1000 sq ft treatment provides the best performance at the lowest rate.
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Principal Investigators: Larry Stowell, Ph.D. and Wendy Gelernter, Ph.D.
Cooperator: Reed Yenny, CGCS Mesa Verde Country Club
Sponsor: Ciba
