Core Cultivation and Efficacy of Benomyl Applied to Creeping Bentgrass

Abstract

Hollow tine core cultivation is practiced for the management of creeping bentgrass [Agrostis stolonifera L. var. palustris (Huds.) Farw.; syn. A. palustris Huds.] golf course greens and fairways to increase water infiltration, increase turf root and shoot growth, and control thatch. Benomyl [methyl 1‐butylcarbamoyl)‐2‐benzimidazole carbamate] is commonly used on turf as a soil drench for the control of disease such as dollar spot (caused by Sclerotinia homoeocarpa F.T. Bennett). Our objective was to determine the effect of core cultivation on the movement of a systemic pesticide in thatch and soil and the uptake by turfgrass using benomyl as a model. Core cultivation was conducted 1, 7, and 14 d before benomyl application in a field trial during 1992 and 1993 to study the effect of coring and time of coring on the movement and uptake of benomyl and control of dollar spot disease. Fungicide levels in turfgrass clippings, thatch and soil were determined by bioassay. Core cultivation 1 d before benomyl treatment provided the longest lasting uptake of benomyl and control of dollar spot disease compared with 7 and 14 d before benomyl treatment. Clipping, thatch, and soil samples from areas close to the coring holes had significantly higher (P = 0.05) levels of fungicide residues than those farther from the coring holes. This study suggests that core cultivation shortly before benomyl application can increase movement of benomyl into thatch and soil, thereby increasing uptake of benomyl by turfgrass and improving disease control.

Evaluation of core cultivation practices to reduce ecological risk of pesticides in runoff from Agrostis palustris

“…As a result, one would anticipate greater soil compaction with the ST cultivation and increased accessibility of soil adsorptive sites with the HT cultivation. This would influence hydraulic conductivity and infiltration as previously reported [18,22,23] as well as pesticide availability for transport [28,38,39]. The percentage of applied pesticides observed in the runoff is also influenced by the physical and chemical properties of the active ingredient.…”

Nutrient loss with runoff from fairway turf: An evaluation of core cultivation practices and their environmental impact

“…Consequently, one would anticipate increased accessibility of soil adsorptive sites with the HT cultivation and greater soil compaction with the ST cultivation. This would influence the availability of applied chemicals for transport [47][48][49] and infiltration and hydraulic conductivity as previously reported [30,32,33] [40] and agricultural crops [50]. This greater association of chemical load with runoff volume explains in part the increased nutrient transport associated with the ST plots compared with HT plots and the increased difference in nutrient loads between cultivation practices at 2 d compared with 63 d. Cultivation to reduce nutrient loss with runoff from turf Environ.…”

“…Consequently, one would anticipate increased accessibility of soil adsorptive sites with the HT cultivation and greater soil compaction with the ST cultivation. This would influence the availability of applied chemicals for transport [47][48][49] and infiltration and hydraulic conductivity as previously reported [30,32,33]. Analysis of chemical loads with runoff volumes and chemical concentrations revealed that nutrient and tracer loads could be attributed to runoff volume more than chemical concentrations for both core cultivation practices (average values for all chemicals: ST 2 d, volume r 2 ¼ 0.89, concentration r 2 ¼ 0.16; HT 2 d, volume r 2 ¼ 0.84, concentration r 2 ¼ 0.19; ST 63 d, volume r 2 ¼ 0.66, concentration r 2 ¼ 0.09; HT 63 d, volume r 2 ¼ 0.79, concentration r 2 ¼ 0.15).…”

Perspective on the History of Turf Cultivation

“…Satisfactory results from the application of pesticides to turf depend on many factors, including sufficient uptake of the pesticide by plants and its stability on the site following its application. Liu et al (1994) observed that the uptake and subsequent efficacy of the fungicide benomyl can be enhanced by core cultivating the turf shortly before application of the fungicide, turf recovery of fairy‐ring‐affected sites can be improved with core cultivation included in a program approach (Fidanza, 2009; Fidanza et al, 2005), and research by Rice et al (2012) showed that coring can substantially reduce pesticide runoff.…”