Effects of Pronamide Treatments on the Establishment of Centipedegrass

Abstract

Pronamide [3,5-dichloro-N-(1,1-dimethyl-2-propynyl)benzamide] was applied to newly sprigged centipedegrass [Eremochloa ophiuroides (Munro) Hack.] in field and greenhouse experiments at 0.56, 0.84, 1.68, and 3.36 kg/ha at various time intervals from 0 to 10 weeks after sprigging. Sequential pronamide treatments of 0.84 kg/ha applied at sprigging followed with 1.68 kg/ha at 3 weeks after sprigging did not affect plant survival and controlled large crabgrass [Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop.] and goosegrass [Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn.] sufficiently to allow optimum growth of the turfgrass. Plots treated with one pronamide application did not control weeds satisfactorily, while more than two applications either caused turf injury or generally offered no advantage in weed control when compared with sequential 0.84 and 1.68 kg/ha treatments. In field plots treated with 0.84 kg/ha at sprigging and 1.68 kg/ha at 3 weeks after sprigging, the turf ground cover was 66% after the first growing season. Plant and root growth were not adversely affected in greenhouse-grown turf receiving similar treatments.