North Carolina Turfgrass - May/June 2021

May / June 2021

DISSECTING INFIELD PLAYABILITY New Herbicides for 2021

A Publication of the Turfgrass Council of North Carolina

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Table of Contents May / June 2021

12 C O V ER STO RY

DISSECTING INFIELD PLAYABILITY

F EA T UR E AR TICLE S:

MOR E FE ATUR E S:

10 The Evolving

From the President 6 Index of Advertisers 7 TCNC Deluxe Members 8 NC State Turf Team 8 Welcome, New Members 9 Calendar of Events 9 TCNC Membership Renewal 28

Employee Focus

16 New Herbicides for 2021 22 Musser Turfgrass Award Winner Takes All

FIND THIS ISSUE, PODCASTS, EVENTS AND MORE: THETURFZONE.COM

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May/June 2021

The Turfgrass Council of North Carolina (TCNC) serves its members in the industry through education, promotion and representation. The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the association, its staff, or its board of directors, North Carolina Turfgrass, or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or TCNC members, does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services featured in this, past or subsequent issues of this bimonthly publication. Copyright © 2021 by the Turfgrass Council of North Carolina. North Carolina Turfgrass is published bi-monthly. Subscriptions are complimentary to members of TCNC. Presorted standard postage is paid at Jefferson City, MO. Printed in the U.S.A. Reprints and Submissions: North Carolina Turfgrass allows reprinting of material published here. Permission requests should be directed to TCNC. We are not responsible for unsolicited freelance manuscripts and photographs. Contact the managing editor for contribution information. Advertising: For display and classified advertising rates and insertions, please contact Leading Edge Communications, LLC, 206 Bridge Street, Suite 200, Franklin, TN 37064, 615.790.3718, Fax 615.794.4524.

A P u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e T u r f g r a s s C o u n c i l o f No rth C aro l i n a 5

From the President

North Carolina Turfgrass is the official publication of the Turfgrass Council of North Carolina 110 Horizon Drive Suite 210 Raleigh, NC 27615 919.459.2070 Fax 919.459.2075 www.ncturfgrass.org

T

his is a good time of year to remind ourselves why we are members of an industry association like the Turfgrass Association of North Carolina.

Trade association membership is vital for supporting any given industry. Yes, some are more important than others, but most if not all, strive to provide benefits with for their members and with our industry in mind.

The Turfgrass Council of North Carolina provides several valuable benefits to its members. These benefits come in many forms to help support the turfgrass industry in North Carolina. This, in turn helps secure livelihoods working in the industry.

Benefits of being a member of TCNC include (and of course, not limited to):

Legislative Support Membership allows TCNC to act as your voice on important issues that affect our industry and your livelihood. Issues like water allocation/use, pesticide & fertilizer use, taxation of services, H-1B Regulations, noise ordinance laws, just to name a few.

Your TCNC membership includes being a member of the North Carolina Green Industry Council (GIC). You cannot directly be a member of GIC without being a member of a recognized NC association. TCNC is a partner member of GIC. The NC Green Industry Council unites all green industry associations and constituents to: • Represent and protect members’ legislative interests • Promotes the value of green industry products and services • Advocate the green industry a leader of environmental stewardship One very recent example of TCNC legislative support is the association’s work to have the turfgrass industry categorized as essential workers in North Carolina during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. This was possible with the help of GIC and NCDA. Situations effecting your business like this one occurs on a regular basis. They usually occur quickly and having an association looking out for you and your livelihood is an investment in the present and future.

Certification TCNC is the only association that facilitates the North Carolina Certified Turfgrass Profession certification (NCCTP). The NCCTP designation is the only certification program dedicated to turfgrass professionals in North Carolina.

Being an NCCTP gives you professional credibility allowing you to stand out from the crowd.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Marcy Cottle IMI Association Executives info@ncturfgrass.org 919.459.2070 Published by: Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street Franklin, TN 37064 615.790.3718 Fax 615.794.4524 info@leadingedgecommunications.com

TCNC OFFICERS PRESIDENT Kevin Herrmann Fairway Green Inc. Raleigh, NC

VICE PRESIDENT

Wilson Sutton Falling Creek Golf Club Kinston, NC

PAST PRESIDENT Gene Queen Nature's Select Winston Salem, NC

Education TCNC provides opportunities for CEU’s throughout the year with or new Knowledge Series events. These events will cover many issues from research updates to running a successful business and managing employees in these changing times.

Event Discounts Member only discounts throughout NC for educational events. One example; you can attend the very well received NC State Field Day for only $5.00.

Your membership also allows TCNC to provide networking opportunities, research funding through NC Turfgrass Foundation, trade magazine, scholarship funding for qualified turfgrass students through the Eagle Foundation and discounted Workers Compensation Insurance through First Benefits.

TCNC has been here for you since 1974 and greatly appreciates your continued support.

TREASURER

Jonathan Richardson, NCCTP NCCTP Chairman Green Resource Dunn, NC

DIRECTORS Brian Beane Nature's Select Premium Turf Services Winston-Salem, NC

Kevin Herrmann 2021 TCNC President

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Damon Dean Keith Hills Country Club Lillington, NC

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May/June 2021

Index of Advertisers Amick's Superstore.............................................25 www.amickssuperstore.com Buy Sod, Inc..........................................................7 www.buysod.com Carolina Fresh Farms..........................................31 www.carolinafreshfarms.com Carolina Green Corp...........................................27 www.cgcfields.com Carolina Turf Farms, Inc.....................................15 carolinaturffarms.com Divots, Inc...........................................................27 www.divotssand.com Green Resource................................... Back Cover www.green-resource.com Kesmac................................................................17 www.brouwerkesmac.com Leading Edge Communications..........................31 www.LeadingEdgeCommunications.com Mid-Atlantic STIHL................................................3 www.stihldealers.com

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO PLAY WITH

Modern Turf, Inc...................................................5 www.modernturf.com Morgan Sand Company........................................9 morgansandco.com Progressive Turf Equipment Inc.........................19 www.progressiveturfequip.com Quality Turf, Inc..................................................21 www.qualityturfnc.com Revels Turf and Tractor......................................11 www.revelstractor.com

Neil Jones, Territory Manager – Virginia & Eastern NC njones@buysod.com • 910-975-0002 Mark Harris – Territory Manager – Western NC/SC mharris@buysod.com • 910-992-6519

Smith Seed Services............................................21 www.smithseed.com Sod Solutions......................................................13 www.sodsolutions.com Southern Seeds, Inc............................................27 www.southernseedsinc.com Southern Specialty Equipment...........................21 www.ssequip.net Super-Sod............................................................23 www.supersod.com The Turfgrass Group................ Inside Front Cover www.theturfgrassgroup.com Triangle Turf and Ornamental............................19 www.cardinalturf.com Turf Mountain Sod, Inc.......................................21 www.turfmountain.com Vandemark Farms.................................................5 www.vandemarkfarms.com

A P u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e T u r f g r a s s C o u n c i l o f No rth C aro l i n a 7

TCNC Deluxe Members

NC State Turf Team

Companies wishing to support TCNC with multiple members can join as Deluxe Members. Deluxe Memberships can be purchased in one of three tiers: 1–5 employees; 6–10 employees; or 11+ employees.

CROP AND SOIL SCIENCES

Dr. Richard Cooper Professor 919.515.7600 rich_cooper@ncsu.edu

Dr. Charles Peacock Professor 919.515.3667 charles_peacock@ncsu.edu

Emily Erickson Lecturer 919.513.2034 emily_erickson@ncsu.edu

Dr. Rob Richardson Associate Professor & Extension Specialist 919.515.5653 rob_richardson@ncsu.edu

If you'd like to learn more about the Deluxe Membership, please contact the TCNC office at 919.459.2070 or info@ncturfgrass.org.

Thank You to Our DELUXE MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS The Biltmore Company

McConnell Golf LLC

Barefoot & Associates Inc.

Nature's Select Premium Turf Services

Buy Sod Inc Carolina Farm Credit

Dr. Travis Gannon Assistant Professor 919.515.2647 travis_gannon@ncsu.edu

North Carolina A&T State University

Pennington Seed – ProTurf Division

City of Raleigh Parks & Recreation

Quality Turf

Country Boy Landscaping Inc

Dr. Susana Milla-Lewis Associate Professor 919.515.3196 susana_milla-lewis@ncsu.edu

Dr. Fred Yelverton Professor & Extension Specialist 919.515.5639 fred_yelverton@ncsu.edu

Dr. Grady Miller Professor & Extension Specialist 919.515.5656 grady_miller@ncsu.edu

ENTOMOLOGY AND PLANT PATHOLOGY Dr. Terri Billeisen Extension Associate 919.515.7464 tlhoctor@ncsu.edu

Lee Butler Extension Coordinator 919.513.3878 elbutler@ncsu.edu

Dr. Rick Brandenburg Wm. Neal Reynolds Professor 919.515.8876 rick_brandenburg@ncsu.edu

Dr. James Kerns Associate Professor 919.513.4820 jpkerns@ncsu.edu

Sod Solutions Inc. Southern Ag

Fayetteville Technical Community College

Southern Seeds Inc

Givens Estates

Town of Cary Public Works

JRM Inc.

Turf Mountain Sod Inc

Keith Hills Country Club

Vandemark Farms LLC

Leap Frog Landcare, Inc.

Wake Forest University

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Dr. Wei Shi Professor 919.513.4641 wei_shi@ncsu.edu

Smith Turf & Irrigation

Fairway Green

Green Resource

Matt Martin Extension Associate, Turfgrass 910.675.2314 matthew_martin@ncsu.edu

Nufarm Americas, Inc.

Carolina Green Corp.

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Dr. Thomas Rufty Jr. Professor 919.515.3660 tom_rufty@ncsu.edu

HORTICULTURE SCIENCE

Dr. Danesha Seth Carley Director, Southern IPM Center & Associate Professor 919.513.8189 danesha_carley@ncsu.edu

May/June 2021

Welcome New Members!

Calendar of Events

William Smith

Little River Lawn & Landscape Inc. Goldsboro, NC

TCNC Knowledge Series

Exact dates TBD

TCNC Membership Renewal Deadline

June 30, 2021

June 2021

Submit renewals online, over the phone, or by mail.

STMA Conference

Golf Industry Show (GIS)

January 17 – 20, 2022

February 5 – 10, 2022

Savannah, GA

San Diego, CA

Turfgrass Producers International Education Conference

For event news & updates throughout the year, visit

Scot Shutters

Cape Fear Community College Southport, NC

Tanner Kenison

GreenSpace Lawn Care, Inc. Waxhaw, NC

Will Caudle

Fairfield Harbour Landscape New Bern, NC

February 14 – 17, 2022 San Diego, CA

NCTURFGRASS.ORG

Brian Best

City of Raleigh Raleigh, NC

Spencer Albritton

Albritton Lawn & Landscape Farmville, NC

Derek Walsh Town of Garner Garner, NC

Zach Johanson Town of Garner Garner, NC

Jonathan Creech Town of Garner Garner, NC

A P u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e T u r f g r a s s C o u n c i l o f No rth C aro l i n a 9

Feature Article

THE EVOLV ING

E M P L OYE E FOCUS The

By Neal Glatt, CSP, ASM

way that world-class companies are thinking about their employees is evolving dramatically. If we want our people to be more engaged, more productive, more satisfied, and more likely to stay with our organizations, then we must not only learn from this new perspective but execute it faster and be a more competitive employer.

The CEOs of the companies I’m talking about belong to an organization called The Business Roundtable. They represent more than 250 of the leading companies in the U.S. including places like Amazon, Bank of America, Coca-Cola, Dell, Ford, Home Depot, Marriott, Proctor & Gamble, UPS, Visa, and Xerox. Together, these companies touch every single sector of the economy and employ more than 15 million people.

From 1997 until 2018, The Business Roundtable published what they called a Corporate Purpose. This statement is what every major CEO believed was the reason for business to exist and what good leaders should deliver. The basis of their Corporate Purpose was based on the philosophy of Milton Friedman for which he was awarded the 1970 Nobel Prize in Economics.

In summary, he believed that “there is one and only one social responsibility of business: to engage in activities designed to increase its profits.”

But nearly 50 years after this ground-breaking theory won global acclaim, the CEOs of The Business Roundtable realized it wasn’t working for them in today’s world. They determined that putting profit first didn’t deliver the long-term benefits they needed for their stockholders and that it was not a sustainable business philosophy. So, in August of 2019 they published a new Corporate Purpose.

This new purpose prioritizes value for customers, investing in employees, fostering diversity and inclusion, dealing fairly and ethically with suppliers, supporting the community, and protecting the environment ahead of delivering long-term value to shareholders. They explicitly state “too often hard work is not rewarded, and not enough is being done for workers to adjust to the rapid pace of change in the economy.”

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These CEOs know more about managing people, motivation, and building successful companies than anyone. When they say that employees need more recognition and skills development, you can bet it’s a successful plan. In fact, Gallup has shown that teams that have seen progression in their development in the last six months are 10–15% more productive than those who haven’t.

The problem is that 250 CEOs can’t change the culture and execution of job training for 15 million employees nearly as fast as our small and nimble teams can. So, we can leverage the philosophy and beat them to the punch by investing in our people starting immediately and becoming a superior employment option as they struggle to pivot.

The studies prove that when we care about and invest in our people’s development, they’ll be more involved in, enthusiastic about, and committed to our work and workplaces. What’s more, productivity, profitability, and safety increase while turnover, absenteeism, and defects decrease. So, the only question is where do we get started?

If you’re not sure how to train your team for the next level, you’re not alone. Fortunately, we started GrowTheBench.com to provide affordable, on-demand, virtual education for the green industry to help. When you set up your employees, they’ll be learning and developing the skills they need to succeed in the workplace and become more engaged in the process. There is even content that is 100% free. It’s never been easier, or more important, to invest in employees than it is today.

Neal Glatt, CSP, ASM is a managing partner of GrowTheBench.com – a leading provider of affordable online education, professional development and peer networking for green industry professionals. Connect with Neal via email at Neal@GrowTheBench.com.

May/June 2021

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Congratulations to Charlotte Knights’ Sport Turf Manager Matt Parrott, and his entire turf team, for bringing home the Sports Turf Management Association (STMA) Triple-A Turf Manager of the Year Award two years running. Playing consistently at that level takes work. So they always leave everything on the field, with an assist from John Deere Dealer Mobile Service and Support. See for yourself at JohnDeere.com/Sportsturf Your local John Deere dealer can help you create your own field of dreams.

Call them for a demo today.

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Cover Story

DISSECTING

INFIELD PLAYABILITY

By Evan C. Mascitti and Andrew McNitt, PhD

A

baseball often touches two different surfaces during the same play. This sets baseball apart from other ball sports. Most ground balls take their first bounce on the turf and are fielded on the infield skin (Figure 1). The concentration of play in this small area means that infield playability consumes much of the grounds crew’s focus. Experienced managers know instinctively when the ball is reacting the way they want, and they can produce a consistent surface despite changing weather conditions. Playability can be an ambiguous term because it is easy to observe but hard to describe.

FIGURE 1: Most action occurs on the infield skin.

This article unpacks infield playability by combining practical observations with bite-size pieces of physics. We will cover the following ideas: 1. Consistency is king 2. Components of speed 3. Corkboard = plasticity + stiffness

CONSISTENCY IS KING Above all else, infielders want a consistent, predictable surface.

This means no surprises about how the ball will react from one hop to the next, and that the field will play identically throughout a game and over the season. Elite athletes can field almost any ball, fast or slow — so long as the bounces are the same, each and every time. Infielders prefer ground balls to “hug” the surface: a shallow path makes the ball easier to track and collect. The grass and dirt areas should have similar speed and the transition between them should be seamless.

Predictability is crucial for players to be able to do their jobs.

If the final hop is deflected by just a few degrees, the ball can easily carom off the heel of a player’s glove or scoot beyond his reach.

COMPONENTS OF SPEED Players and coaches sometimes ask us to “speed up” or “slow down” the infield, usually by adjusting the cutting height of the turf. Ball response is more nuanced than fast vs. slow, and canopy height plays only a minor role. However, it has been said that perception is reality, so a perceived change may satisfy such a request – even if we fib about having lowered the reels by 1/8" or so. Ball response is divisible into three important elements: pace, bounce, and spin.

PACE DENSITY OF MLB FIELDING PLAYS

• Map includes 39,869 batted balls from 2020 season • Data source: Baseball Savant Database

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Pace is the relative velocity of a ball after impact. Infield pace is mostly determined by hardness and friction. It is measured as a simple ratio, the Coefficient of Restitution (COR):

There is limited research on infield pace, but data suggest that soil properties affect COR more than cutting height or thatch.

Dr. Jim Brosnan measured COR on real infields and on research plots (Brosnan and McNitt, 2008a; b; 2011). Infield COR ranged from 0.4 to 0.6, meaning a ball retained 40 to 60 % of its initial velocity after the first bounce. COR was generally higher on skinned surfaces than synthetic turf, which had a similar (but slightly higher) COR than natural grass.

In the work by Dr. Brosnan, pace was closely related to surface hardness. Hardness is easy to measure with the familiar Clegg hammer or the F-355 device (for synthetic infields).

May/June 2021

Cover Story | continued

Brosnan and McNitt (2008a) found that most infield skins had Clegg values well over 100 Gmax – much higher than values recommended for turf areas (Figure 2). However, it is worth noting that some fields in this study were substantially drier than typical game moisture. In a baseball context, hardness may be more useful for managing playability than safety, as baseball players are never tackled and rarely become injured by falling on the surface.

Ball-to-surface friction is determined by soil texture, presence of conditioner, and the all-important water content (Goodall et al., 2005). A thick conditioner layer reduces surface friction because the granules rotate like ball bearings as the ball shears

FIGURE 2: Surface hardness on baseball infields generally exceeds values recommended for American football.

against them. The ball will skid rather than checking up. Friction also affects the ball’s release angle, which in turn alters the bounce height (Figure 3).

BOUNCE The term bounce defines the vertical rebound of a ball after impact. Some research on cricket pitches suggests that the ball “speed” experienced by a real athlete is more related to bounce than pace. Adams et al. (2005) found that umpires’ perception of speed was more closely linked to the ball’s rebound height than its velocity. A higher bounce means the ball carries farther between bounces, leading to the perception of a faster surface.

Any debate about whether a perceived faster surface really has a greater pace or a greater bounce is purely scholastic, because the players’ experience is what ultimately matters. Bounce is related to hardness, and a harder surface will appear faster, even if only due to its higher bounce.

SPIN The influence of ball spin can be large or small, depending on the ball-to-surface friction coefficient μ (Daish, 1972). If μ is large, the ball “rolls” during impact and its new spin rate is determined by the original incoming velocity. If μ is small, the ball retains some spin as it skids through impact and its release angle is steeper (Figure 3, bottom panel). The latter is the usual case on closelymown turfgrass.

You can observe this phenomenon during batting practice.

It’s hard to hit accurate fungoes with full effort, so experienced coaches prefer a flatter but more controlled trajectory with some backspin. The steeper release angle helps compensate for lost velocity by increasing the ball’s carry after its first bounce.

It’s unusual for a ground ball to be hit with backspin during a game. Most ground balls have forward spin and release at an angle beneath their incoming trajectory (Figure 3, top panel).

FIGURE 3: If the ball can skid through impact, initial spin will influence the release angle. Adapted from Daish, 1972.

CORKBOARD = PLASTICITY + STIFFNESS FIGURE 4: (A) This “corkboard” infield will not affect ball path because of its plastic yet stiff consistency. (B) Large, ragged cleat marks may cause erratic bounces, leading to errors or injuries.

A

B

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We associate the word plastic with man-made products like disposable water bottles – but the word is actually derived from plastikos, an ancient Greek term for clay. Plastikos roughly translates to “fit for shaping.” Plasticity is perhaps the most useful property of clay: it helps potters to mold clay into useful objects before firing, and it allows a groundskeeper to scarify, shave, and pack soil with proper moisture. New grounds interns are quickly taught the sacred importance of moisture management.

Plasticity is important for two reasons. First, it means the soil will be smoothly remolded around players’ cleats, rather than “chunking out” or shattering into chips. This delivers the coveted corkboard surface and minimizes the number of imperfections which could cause bad bounces, as shown in Figure 4. The second reason is that if a ball does hit one of the cleat marks, the soil will readily deform again – allowing the ball to continue its initial path. Plasticity provides the “give” which makes wellwatered soil so nice to play on.

May/June 2021

Plasticity alone is not enough. Most finegrained soils are plastic at high water contents, but many lose their shear strength when so much moisture is added. Such a soil can never provide stable footing if watered to a plastic condition — the players will sink and slide, leading to injuries.

Other materials retain more stiffness when wetted above the plastic limit. Stiffness is a measure of the force needed to deform the soil. An ideal infield soil retains a plastic and stiff consistency, even under hot sun or during a rain game. Designing these types of mixes is a current research topic at Penn State. We recently created a laboratory method to measure the cleat-in/cleat-out effect. We are using the method to test infield mixes containing various clay minerals, since these respond differently as the soil wets or dries. Thanks are extended to the PA Turfgrass Council, KAFMO, and the SAFE Foundation for supporting the project.

On a synthetic turf infield “skin,” surface deformation happens differently.

The fibers (rather than soil water) reduce the rotating and sliding of infill particles. The sand: rubber ratio and particle size distribution of the infill may also affect performance.

SUMMARY Ball response can be managed intuitively, but it helps to consider the underlying physics. Consistency is most important.

What infielders experience as speed is a combined effect of pace, bounce, and spin.

Conditioners reduce the effects of ball spin by lowering surface friction. The soil must be both stiff and plastic to achieve the coveted corkboard. Future research could define new playability measures and how to achieve them.

REFERENCES Adams, W.A., S.W. Baker, D.M. James, and R.J. Young. 2005. Measuring and Modelling the Bounce and Pace of County Championship Cricket Pitches. International Turfgrass Society Research Journal 10(1021-1026): 1021–1026.

Brosnan, J.T., and A.S. McNitt. 2008a. Surface Conditions of Highly Maintained Baseball Fields in the Northeastern United States : Part 1 , NonTurfed Basepaths. Applied Turfgrass Science (April). doi: 10.1094/ATS-2008-0520-01-RS.

Brosnan, J.T., and A.S. McNitt. 2008b. Surface Conditions of Highly Maintained Baseball Fields in the Northeastern United States: Part 2, Synthetic versus Natural Turfgrass. Applied Turfgrass Science (April): 8. doi: 10.1094/ATS-2008-0520-02-RS. Brosnan, J.T., A.S. McNitt, and T.J. Serensits.

2011. Effects of surface conditions on baseball playing surface pace. Journal of Testing and Evaluation 39(3). doi: 10.1520/JTE103215.

Daish, C.B. 1972. The Physics of Ball Games.

The English Universities Press, London.

Goodall, S.A., K. Guillard, W.M. Dest, and K.R. Demars. 2005. Ball response and traction of skinned infields amended with calcined clay at varying soil moisture contents. International Turfgrass Society Research Journal 10: 1085–1093.

A Pu b l i c a t i o n o f t h e T u r f g r a s s C o u n c i l o f No rth C aro l i n a 15

Feature Article

NEW HERBICIDES FOR 2021,

PART I

By Scott McElroy, Ph.D. – Professor, Department of Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences Jim Harris – Research Associate, Department of Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences, Auburn University

The following article will discuss select new products that will be available for turfgrass industry use in 2021.

The discussion of these products is not an endorsement of the products and exclusion of products that may be newly available is not opposition to those products. Products discussed have been researched in Dr. McElroy’s research group and some available data is presented. Always follow the label regardless of what any article may say about a product. The label is the law.

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N

ew herbicide products do not necessarily mean new active ingredients. New herbicide product names may simply be repackaged active ingredients or novel mixtures of previously available active ingredients. Novel active ingredients are a rarity with respect to new herbicide products. The lack of a novel active ingredient does not necessarily mean that the products do not bring a new control angle to the turfgrass industry. Novel combinations of older active ingredients can provide additive or even synergistic herbicide effects and can broaden the spectrum of weeds controlled. But with new combinations it is important to understand the activity of individual active ingredients contained in the products.

May/June 2021

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Feature Article | continued

COASTAL

grasses is important for lawn care because it does not require the changing of products from one turfgrass lawn to the next.

Coastal herbicide is a new combination of older products – imazaquin, prodiamine, and simazine. Imazaquin previously labeled as Image can now be purchased as the stand alone product Scepter T&O. Prodiamine was first labeled as Barricade and simazine was first labeled as Princep (There are other product names, it is simply easier to refer to the first product name used).

Research conducted in 2019–2020 evaluated Coastal in September and October for Poa annua and winter annual broadleaf control.

Coastal was applied at 32 or 64 fl oz/a with or without metsulfuron (MSM) at 0.5 oz/a. A comparison treatment Specticle at 6.5 fl oz/a plus metsulfuron at 0.5 fl oz/a was included.

New herbicide mixtures primarily target new combinations of post herbicides — Trimec-type herbicides or herbicides with mixtures of sulfentrazone (Dismiss) and quinclorac (Drive). Echelon is a combination of prodiamine and sulfentrazone, pre and post, respectively, but few (if any) others exist. Coastal is another unique combination because it also combines both pre and post herbicides. Prodiamine is strictly a preemergence herbicide with no postemergence activity. Simazine is used for post winter weed control, primarily Poa annua, but it can provide 14–28 days of residual. Imazaquin is a postemergence herbicide with minimal residual activity.

Coastal is labeled for use on bermudagrass, centipedegrass, St. Augustinegrass, and zoysiagrass. Like the name implies, it is primarily targeted at warm-season turf along the gulf coast. Being registered for weed control on the four-primary warm-season

• All treatments controlled Poa annua completely, regardless of split or single applications (data not shown). The additional benefit of Coastal is that it also provided effective control of the annual broadleaf, small hop clover (Trifolium dubium; Figure 1). Coastal with and without metsulfuron reduced hop clover cover to 2–4%, while hop clover cover was > 25% in non-treated plots. The combination of residual activity from prodiamine and simazine combined with the postemergence activity of simazine and imazaquin likely lead to the effective control.

VEXIS Vexis is a new herbicide product containing the new active ingredient pyrimisulfan. It is a sedge control herbicide with excellent cool and warm-season turfgrass safety. It is also labeled for golf and residential turf. Vexis is currently only sold as a granular. A sprayable formulation is currently in the registration pipeline.

FIGURE 1: Small hop clover control with Coastal.

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May/June 2021

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Tri-Deck cutting widths: 12’, 15.5’, 22’*, 36’* Roller Mower cutting widths: 65”, 90”, 12’, 15.5’, 22’*, 26’*, 29.5’* Contour/rough finishing mower: Pro-Flex™ 120B 10’ cut.

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Feature Article | continued

There are many herbicide options for sedge control in turf. Twenty to 30 years ago, herbicides for sedge control in turfgrass were primarily limited to MSMA and Basagran (bentazon). Now, several ALS-inhibitors are available including Sedgehammer (halosulfuron), Monument (trifloxysulfuron), Certainty (sulfosulfuron), Celero (imazosulfuron), and Katana (flazasulfuron).

Also, Dismiss (sulfentrazone) is a PPO-inhibitor that provides a different mode of action for sedge control in cases of herbicide resistance.

Vexis is an ALS inhibiting herbicide, so it does not bring a new mode of action to the table for sedge control. The current benefits of Vexis are that it can be applied as a granular and with a high level of cool and warm-season turfgrass safety. Safety across cool and warm-season turfgrass is beneficial for the transition zone where such grasses may be directly adjacent to each other. Expect

new herbicides in the future that use pyrimisulfan in a novel mixture to gain a greater spectrum of weed control.

SCEPTER T&O Imazaquin was first used in turfgrass under the trade name of Image. Since then, the “Image” name has been re-branded for the home lawn care market and an Image branded product can contain atrazine, MSMA (in the past), or other active ingredients. Image is less of a herbicide brand name and more of a marketing strategy for herbicide products in the consumer herbicide space.

Scepter T&O has replaced Image as the standalone product containing only imazaquin. There is nothing new about Scepter T&O, only the name has changed. Imazaquin is a unique,

FIGURE 2

FIGURE 3 Non-Treated

Scepter 5.7 oz/a + Dismiss 4.0 oz/a ABC

August 9, 2019 – 4 Days After C Application

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probably overlooked product. As products age, marketing budgets do not keep up and consumers are attracted to the newer, flashier products. Newer products are not necessarily better, but they can highlight some of the issues with an older active ingredient.

Imazaquin is one of those active ingredients that was exposed with the introduction of new products. While it has sedge, broadleaf, and cool season grass activity, one of the needs of newer products is broad spectrum activity and excellent turfgrass safety.

Imazaquin is effective for sedge control, but it really needs a tank-mix partner like MSMA for consistent effectiveness. It is not broad spectrum for broadleaf weed control either and Poa annua control can be inconsistent.

Research was conducted in 2019 to evaluate combinations of Scepter T&O for doveweed control. Treatments included Scepter 5.7 oz/a plus Dismiss 4.0 fl oz/a applied three times (24 June, 16 July, 5 August), Scepter 8.5 oz/a plus Dismiss 6.0 fl oz/a applied two times (24 June, 16 July), Scepter T&O at 8.6 oz/a plus metsulfuron at 0.5 oz/a applied two times (24 June, 16 July), and Celsius at 4.9 oz/a applied twice (24 June and 16 July). All treatments contained non-ionic surfactant and were applied at 30 gallons per acre spray volume.

Doveweed plot cover was approximately 20 to 30% at the time of application on 24 June (Figure 2). Following sequential applications, all treatments reduced doveweed cover to 0 to 3% cover two weeks after the second applications. Three applications of Scepter plus Dismiss at a lower rate was not more effective when rated on 13 September than two applications at a higher rate (Figure 3). All treatments were statistically equivalent in doveweed plot cover (2–6%) as rated on 13 September while non-treated plots had approximately 80% plot cover.

Based on past research and observations, all treatments provided excellent doveweed control.

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FINAL THOUGHTS This article is meant to highlight a select set of new herbicides entering the turfgrass market. Expect follow up articles this year discussing other new products.

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FEATURE ARTICLE

MUSSER

TURFGRASS

AWARD WINNER

TAKES ALL

By Jennifer Howard

“It’s

the highest honor for a graduate student studying turfgrass science to be recognized by this award,” 2021 Musser Foundation Award of Excellence winner Cameron Stephens said. “It’s like the Heisman for turfgrass science graduate students.” Stephens is a recent NC State Plant Pathology and Crop and Soil Sciences alumnus with deep expertise on a growing problem for golf courses – take-all root rot (TARR).

C ON TI NU E D O N P A G E 2 4

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Feature Article | continued

An Emerging Disease In Play

Supporting Turfgrass Education

TARR is a fungal disease affecting ultradwarf bermudagrass, commonly used on southeastern U.S. golf putting greens. The disease appears throughout the growing season and manifesting itself as white to off-color patches that may decline under stressful abiotic conditions due to the severely compromised root system.

It’s an emerging disease, one of the most frequently diagnosed in NC State’s Turf Diagnostic Lab. TARR is of agronomic and economic importance. It impacts golf course aesthetics and playability but is frequently confused with nematode damage and Pythium root rot, both of which are managed differently. Misdiagnosis can lead to improper management strategies which may result in economic loss, along with unnecessary chemical use.

The Musser International Turfgrass Foundation was created to foster and support turfgrass education and research at the highest level. Annually they bestow their Award of Excellence upon a Ph.D. candidate who has demonstrated excellence throughout their doctoral studies in an area of turfgrass research. Recipient selection criteria include graduate work, academic record, publications and leadership as well as extracurricular activities.

Research With Immediate Impact Stephens’ recently completed doctoral research was dedicated to understanding TARR. “We’ve learned that this disease is caused by multiple pathogens – up to five now that researchers have identified. It’s a complex disease. We are working to understand the disease’s dynamics which will impact our management recommendations – like which fungicides are effective, the optimal timing for fungicides treatments, and best post-application practices to target soilborne diseases.”

Learning from Stephens’ research has already led to earlier season treatment recommendations. “TARR has typically been managed curatively in the fall, but we’ve found these pathogens are most active in the summer. Fungicides applied in late-July to early-August in our area result in the best TARR suppression” Stephens said. “But it’s just the tip of the iceberg. There are only a handful of researchers working on this disease and there’s so much more to learn.”

A Legacy of Excellence Stephens is the fifth recipient from NC State since the award’s inception in 1989. “Earning this prestigious award has been a professional goal of mine since I began studying turfgrass science as an undergraduate at Ohio State,” Stephens said. “So many people made this possible for me, from all the people I’ve worked with at Ohio State, Clemson, Penn State, and NC State. This award is a testament to my advisors, mentors, and lab mates who propelled me in my career.”

Travis Gannon and Jim Kerns co-advised Stephens in his doctoral work. “Dr. Cameron Stephens is a talented researcher that completed a very intricate project requiring a comprehensive understanding of multiple facets including fungicide fate, transport, and efficacy.”

Kerns agrees. “Cameron’s Ph.D. research has dramatically improved root disease management in turfgrasses, especially take-all root rot. I am exceptionally proud of all he has accomplished in his work. He is an excellent researcher, but more importantly a wonderful person,” Kerns said.

Photo by Golf Course Magazine C ON TI NU E D O N P A G E 2 6

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Feature Article continued

“ It’s important that the industry continue to have well-trained professionals and there are many different career paths within the industry you can go down.

Try different paths and follow the one you love.”

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The Next Round After successfully completing his doctoral work this spring, Stephens has already teed up what’s next. He is already working with BASF in the Research Triangle Park, NC as the Technical Market Manager for Turf and Ornamentals. “ As part of the technical service team, I’ll support product launches from the technical side – acting as a liaison between regulatory, communication, marketing, and technical services. But I’ll always stay connected to the academic research community through my mentors and fellow colleagues.”

Advice to Those Playing Through Stephens is humble about the Musser Award and his research accomplishments.

“I hope my work helps at least one [golf course] superintendent or inspires the next generation of turfgrass researchers.” And he offers sage advice to students just beginning their academic journey.

“Too often students choose a career path they don’t love. I tell young students to explore different majors and career paths – find something you’ll enjoy doing.

Fortunately, my mentors encouraged me to work with as many people as possible to gain different experiences. The turfgrass community is a wonderfully tight-knit group. It’s important that the industry continue to have well-trained professionals and there are many different career paths within the industry you can go down. Try different paths and follow the one you love.”

Can You See Yourself in Crop and Soil Sciences?

If you are looking for an academic path that leads to impact, consider crop and soil sciences. Our students learn and research alongside industry experts and contribute to impactful discoveries every day.

Learn more about student degree pathways including a deep dive into our turfgrass program. Then sign up for an undergraduate’s guided email tour of the Department of Crop & Soil Sciences.

DIGITAL MARKETPLACE Download your favorite QR reader to your phone, and scan the code to learn more about these companies.

Andy Rushing arushing@cgcfields.com Phone: (704) 634-9799 Toll Free – Office: (866) 753-1707

www.cgcfields.com

Connecting students with growing careers is just part of how we are growing the future.

A Pu b l i c a t i o n o f t h e T u r f g r a s s C o u n c i l o f No rth C aro l i n a 27

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A Pu b l i c a t i o n o f t h e T u r f g r a s s C o u n c i l o f No rth C aro l i n a 29

NCCTP DESIGNATION RENEWAL INFORMATION

PAYMENT INFORMATION

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TheTurfZone.com is the central hub for turfgrass research and information from multiple state turf associations.

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