Impact of mowing and weed control on broadleaf weed population dynamics in turf

Abstract

Various turf management activities may influence weed population dynamics and interfere with weed control. The effects of a biocontrol agent, Sclerotinia minor , a chemical herbicide, Killex TM , and mowing height on broadleaf weed dynamics were examined in two turfgrass stands for two consecutive years. Mowing did not reduce the population densities of dandelion or the ground cover of broadleaf weeds. In the second year, mowing significantly reduced white clover density, but significantly increased broadleaf plantain density, particularly at the closest mowing height (3 Á5 cm). Apart from the close height, the S. minor and Killex TM treatments were equally effective in suppression of dandelion, white clover, broadleaf plantain, and prostrate knotweed in the second year. Common mallow increased in the herbicide treated plots and other species including yellow woodsorrel, yellow toadflax and lambsquarters increased in abundance in plots mowed at the 3 Á5 cm height and in plots treated with Killex TM . Significant differences between the Killex TM and S. minor treatments on dandelion population dynamics were rarely present and did not favour either treatment. S. minor did not damage the turfgrass, but Killex TM reduced turf quality in 25% of the plots. The application of S. minor with a regular, medium height ( Â/7 cm) mowing regime was highly effective in controlling broadleaf weeds in temperate Kentucky bluegrass turf.

Ecological and economic benefits of low‐intensity urban lawn management

“…Intensive mowing provides has thus been identified as an important contributor to weed invasions in turfgrass production (Busey, ) and planted urban meadows (Norton et al, ). Although some studies report an inconsistent effect of mowing height (Abu‐Dieyeh & Watson, ), instances of low mowing height reducing lawn weeds are rare. Despite the influence of mowing intensity on weed invasion potential, individual species responses will ultimately depend on the interaction between species characteristics, management regimes and ecological, climatic and edaphic factors.…”

Weed Suppression in Only-Legume Cover Crop Mixtures

“…Comparing the fallow with any of the treatments with the cover crop confirms that mulching a legume cover crop strongly reduces WB. Three general mechanisms can be distinguished that may underlie this observation: (1) Cutting may lead to direct mortality, or reduced growth, of weeds in particular if the top-growth is removed at lower levels below 7 cm [63]; the reduction in biomass is evident from the comparison between H2 and H3 in the fallow plots. (2) Differential recovery from cutting between weeds, especially annual ones, and the forage legumes may lead to a shift in the competitive balance towards the crop; and (3) residues of legumes (and weeds) left as a dead mulch may contribute to weed suppression; either (a) as a physical barrier, (b) through reduced light transmittance to the soil surface [18], and (c) by release of allelochemicals [17,19,20] that reduce weed seedling growth.…”

Influence of Climate and Management on Patterns of Taxonomic and Functional Diversity of Recreational Park Vegetation

“…However, unlike turf composition, spontaneous functional composition was not significantly different across cities. For spontaneous species to be found within a recreational park lawn, the species must disperse and germinate within the climate of the city, and then establish despite management and recreational activities enacted on lawns (Abu-Dieyeh and Watson, 2005;Anderson and Minor, 2019). Adaptations to regional climate may explain the variety in lawn taxonomy that we observed, while the adaptation to intense human impacts could explain the lack of difference in functional composition.…”