Utilizing Dazomet to Control Poa Annua in Fairway Renovations.

With golf course renovations taking place throughout the country, the need for an effective soil sterilant is as important as ever. Turf professionals need to ensure the planted seed is the only seed that will germinate. Sterilizing the soil is a necessary first step in this procedure. Without a soil sterilant, any existing weed seeds may become viable and germinate, which can become a major hindrance and competitor to the newly seeded area. Traditionally, the most popular and dependable method to sterilize soil was the use of methyl bromide, but new regulations have removed this product from the market and left growers with few substitutes. One of these alternatives is dazomet, known under the trade name - Basamid. This study focuses on the ability of dazomet to inhibit germination and emergence of Poa annua, a prolific seeding plant with an ever-abundant soil seed bank. A primary objective of our research was to develop a procedure that would not include covering the area being treated while using dazomet over large areas, like golf fairways. Research was completed on fairway height creeping bentgrass/annual bluegrass mixed stands in East Lansing, Michigan, where multiple rates of dazomet were used in variable intervals followed by seeding of a new creeping bentgrass stand into the treated area. Our results suggest that turf growers may need to apply dazomet at a higher rate than the current label permits to have significant control. Furthermore, there was no significant negative effects from seeding immediately after the current label allows for re-entry into the treated area.