A Combination Mechanical Cutting-Herbicide Sprayer Device for Managing Clean Borders Amongst Turfgrass Research Plots.

The stoloniferous growth habit of certain turfgrasses presents challenges in keeping research plots free of mechanical contamination by adjacent plots. Bare soil borders are often used amongst research trial entries in an attempt to reduce mechanical contamination of adjoining plots. A combination mechanical slicer-herbicide sprayer device was designed at Oklahoma State University in the late 1990s to maintain clean borders amongst turfgrass research plots. The device has been successfully used in over 50 research trials to reduce mechanical contamination in over 10,000 individual research plots since its invention. Specific benefits achieved by this device include a combination mechanical and herbicidal control of stolon encroachment; precision control of border width; precision application of systemic, non-selective herbicides; limitation of translocation of herbicides by stolon cutting and reduction of off-target herbicide drift due to physical shrouding of the spray nozzle. This poster presents the design features and method of use of a removable combination mechanical slicer-herbicide sprayer device that is mounted to a front deck-style four-wheeled mower. The benefits and restrictions on use of the device are presented.