Golfdom, January 2012

M I T I G A T I N G M O S S FIGURE 3 Continued from page 37 ing up to 18 days to return to acceptable color data not shown In 2009 creeping bentgrass color in essential oil treated plots was acceptable on 71 of rating dates and in 2010 on 412 of rating dates Creeping bentgrass color after treating moss with spot applications of baking soda 6 oz per gallon was variable In 2009 creeping bentgrass color was acceptable on 76 of rating dates Recovery time following creeping bentgrass injury with baking soda ranged from 1 to 7 days In 2010 no adverse effects of applying baking soda were observed Phytotoxicity was observed after treating moss with Armicarb in 2009 and 2010 and creeping bentgrass color was acceptable on 824 in both years Recovery time following creeping bentgrass injury associated with PB ranged from 1 to 8 days Spot treatment with baking soda or Armicarb at reduced concentrations 3 oz per gallon was not phytotoxic to creeping bentgrass nor were broadcast treatments with baking soda 18 oz per 1000 square feet or Armicarb at lower rates 18 or 44 oz per 1000 square feet Conclusions Two spring and two fall applications with spot treatments of baking soda 6 oz per gallon Armicarb 6 oz per gallon or Moss Buster as well as broadcast applications of Quicksilver were shown to reduce moss severity in the first year of this two year study Spot treatments of bicarbonate based products and Moss Buster have the potential to serve as alternatives for moss control and can suppress moss colonies at a level similar to Quicksilver However turf phytotoxicity can occur when using baking soda or Armicarb and severe phytotoxicity is possible when using Moss Buster Cole Thompson is a graduate research assistant in the Department of Horticulture Forestry and Recreation Resources at Kansas State University Jack Fry is a professor in that department and Megan Kennelly is an assistant professor in the Department of Plant Pathology at Kansas State REFERENCES Burnell K D Yelverton F H Neal J C Gannon T W and McElroy J S 2004 Control of silvery thread moss Bryum argenteum Hedw in creeping bentgrass Agrostis palustris Huds putting greens Weed Tech 18 560 565 Cook T McDonald B and Merrifield K 2002 Controlling moss in putting greens Golf Course Management 70 103 106 Happ K 1998 Moss eradication in putting green turf USGA Green Section Record 36 1 5 Kennelly M M Todd T C Settle D M and Fry J D 2010 Moss control on creeping bentgrass greens with standard and alternative approaches Hort Sci 45 654 659 Settle D Kane R T and Miller G L 2007 Evaluation of newer products for selective control of moss on creeping bentgrass greens USGA Turfgrass and Environmental Research Online 6 1 6 Taylor J and Danneberger K 1996 Moss on greens When the rolling stone stops Golf Course Management 64 53 56 Ad Index Advertiser Page The Andersons 7 Audubon 31 B A S F Corp CV3 Grigg Brothers 11 Jacobsen 9 John Deere CV4 Nufarm 16 17 19 PBI Gordon CV2 Project Evergreen 39 Redexim Charterhouse 3 Richway Industries 2 Spectrum Technologies 32 Standard Golf Insert Syngenta 22 23 Turfco Mfg 5 Wireless Solutions 12 This index is provided as an additional service The publisher does not assume any liability for errors or omissions 38 TURFGRASS TRENDS January 2012 www turfgrasstrends com Silvery thread moss and associated creeping bentgrass phytotoxicity on perimeters of moss colonies on 22 May 2009 one day after spot treatment with Moss Buster Silvery thread moss and associated creeping bentgrass phytotoxicity on perimeters of moss colonies on 5 June 2009 one day after spot treatment with Armicarb 6 oz gal 1 Baking soda applications had similar effects on moss colonies FIGURE 2 Silvery thread moss on 22 May 2009 one day after treatment with Quicksilver 014 oz 1000 ft 2 on 21 May Note the lack of creeping bentgrass phytotoxicity FIGURE 4 PHOTOS COURTESY COLE THOMPSON