10/26/2023 - By Dr. Jeff Atkinson

Study:                  Smooth crabgrass (Digitaria ischaemum) control using Fertilizer w/ StayGuard 0.125% in common bermudagrass

Location:             East Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center, Knoxville, TN

Investigator:      Dr. Jim Brosnan and Greg Breeden

Summary:           A field trial was conducted by researchers at the University of Tennessee to investigate the efficacy of Fertilizer w/ StayGuard 0.125% for smooth crabgrass control. Treatments were applied to a stand of common bermudagrass with germinated crabgrass at the cotyledon stage. StayGuard and Dimension treatments provided postemergence control of cotyledon stage crabgrass. Crabgrass control was similar amongst all treatments 12 weeks after treatment (WAT). StayGuard applied at 300 lbs./A provided significantly better control than StayGuard applied at 200 lbs./A 16 WAT. No phytotoxicity was observed at any rating date.

Figure 1. Smooth crabgrass control following application of Fertilizer w/ StayGuard or Dimension. Treatments were applied 13 March 2023. Different letters between treatments within a rating date indicate a statistically significant difference at the α=0.05 level. WAT = Weeks After Treatment. East Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center, Knoxville, TN.

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