Natural Area Management with Specticle Programs.

Golf course managers are implementing or enhancing natural areas on golf courses to reduce maintenance inputs such as labor, mowing, pesticide and fertility applications and irrigation.  The objective of research conducted in 2014-2015 was to evaluate the use of indaziflam formulations including Specticle FLO and Specticle G for plant tolerance in natural areas at spring, summer and winter timings. Overall weed management was a secondary objective.  Trials were conducted throughout the United States on diverse plant material.  Treatments included Specticle G at 50.2 g ai/ha or Specticle Flo at 48 g ai/ha applied over the top of the plant material or directly to the soil surface.  Native or prairie grasses that showed excellent tolerance to both formulations of indaziflam included: switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), little bluestem (Andropogon scoparius), yellow Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans), prairie cordgrass (Spartina pectinata), Basin wildrye (Elymus cinereus), prarie sandreed (Calamovifa longifolia), tall wheatgrass (Thinopyrum porticum).  Hottentot fig also known as ice plant (Carpobrotus edulis) and gazania (Gazania hybrids) were tolerant of Specticle Flo when seasonal applications were made in June.   Sericia lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) showed unacceptable injury to Specticle FLO at the spring and fall timings and the winter application reduced the stand of lespedeza at spring greenup.  Sericia lespedeza was tolerant to Specticle G at spring and summer applications, but not at the winter or dormant timing. Overall weed infestation in a stand of little bluestem at 153 days after the spring application was 13% with Specticle FLO applied directly, 20% with Specticle G applied over the top, 37% with Specticle FLO applied over the top compared to 65% infestation in the control.  The results of these trials conclude that several plant species used in golf course natural areas are tolerant of Specticle G and Specticle FLO at labeled rates.