Pendimethalin dissipation was studied following annual 1.7 kg ai ha–1 applications to 3-yr-old Kentucky bluegrass turf growing on a Sharpsburg silty clay loam soil and an 85/15 by volume sand/Sharpsburg soil mixture in 150-cm-deep rhizotron containers. Plant tissue, thatch, and soil were sampled periodically between application and 168 days after treatment (DAT). Soil and leachate were collected to monitor pendimethalin movement. Most of the herbicide appeared to remain within the turfgrass system. Pendimethalin concentration was highest in plant tissue and thatch. The 4-hydroxymethyl pendimethalin metabolite was detected in turfgrass tissue up to 42 DAT. No pendimethalin was detected at the 30-, 60-, or 120-cm depths in the rhizotron containers. Traces (≤0.003 mg kg–1) of pendimethalin detected in rhizotron leachate collected between 6 and 14 days after heavy rainfall (88 and 95 DAT, respectively) were attributed to gravitational displacement of soil colloids containing adsorbed herbicide. Pendimethalin application to established turfgrass would not appear to pose a high risk of groundwater contamination.

R230, an isolate of Rhizoctonia solani anastomosis group 5 from leafy spurge, caused root and crown rots on leafy spurge when inoculated via soil in greenhouse experiments. The fungus grew through soil over a wide range of matric potentials (–0.01 to −1 MPa). When applied to leafy spurge foliage, the fungus blighted young adventitious shoots, but not mature stems. Foliar infection required high relative humidity. Mycelial growth on plant surfaces stopped at below 92% relative humidity. Pathogenicity of R230 was not limited to leafy spurge. The fungus caused stem and foliar lesions on all crops tested (alfalfa, smooth bromegrass, corn, Kentucky bluegrass, soybean, tall fescue, and wheat) when plants were kept under high humidity. It reduced seedling emergence and survival in soybean, Kentucky bluegrass, and tall fescue. R230 also caused a foliar blight on spotted spurge. The potential for R230 to damage crops will limit application of the fungus to noncultivated areas and to sites where it is endemic.

Greenhouse and growth chamber experiments were conducted to evaluate primisulfuron phytotoxicity to downy brome (Bromus tectorum) and Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) as a function of herbicide placement, adjuvants, and environmental conditions. Primisulfuron rates needed to produce GR50 (50% growth reduction) values were 0.97 ± 0.57 and 8.07 ± 1.85 g/ha for downy brome and Kentucky bluegrass, respectively. Primisulfuron was applied to downy brome and Kentucky bluegrass at three placement sites: foliar, soil, and foliar plus soil. Foliar or foliar plus soil applications were more effective at reducing downy brome dry weights than the soil application of primisulfuron, whereas Kentucky bluegrass was injured more from the soil or foliar plus soil applications than from the foliar application of primisulfuron. Primisulfuron at 5 g/ha applied alone reduced downy brome dry weights by 5%, whereas when an adjuvant was added, dry weights were reduced by 52 to 83%. Primisulfuron was more phytotoxic to downy brome at alternating temperatures of 8 to 16 C and 16 to 24 C than at 0 to 8 C. Phytotoxicity of primisulfuron was less when downy brome plants were stressed for soil moisture after herbicide treatments than when the plants were not stressed or only stressed before treatment.

Field experiments were conducted in 1986 to 1990 to determine the effect of different rates and application times of BAS 514 and dithiopyr alone and in combination on control of large crabgrass and dandelion in Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, and perennial ryegrass. Herbicides evaluated were applied PRE, early POST, and late POST. Results indicated that both herbicides provided excellent PRE control in all years. BAS 514 rates ranged from 0.84 to 0.56 kg ai ha-1. Rates of dithiopyr ranged from 0.43 to 0.56 kg ai ha-1. In addition to crabgrass control, both herbicides controlled dandelion, BAS 514 exhibiting slightly better activity than dithiopyr. BAS 514 at 0.84 to 1.12 kg ai ha-1 and dithiopyr at 0.26 to 0.56 kg ai ha-1 resulted in excellent early POST crabgrass control when applied at the one- to three-leaf stage of crabgrass. BAS 514 and dithiopyr applied late POST (2 to 3 tillers of crabgrass) resulted in 63 to 85% control of crabgrass and 29 to 85% control of dandelion at 10 wk after application. No weed control enhancement was evident from tank mixing the two herbicides. Excellent turf safety was demonstrated by both herbicides on all three turf species.

Four field locations were used to compare environmental factors on efficacy of four postemergence grass herbicides in Kentucky bluegrass and bermudagrass turf. Imazaquin, BAS 514, and tridiphane were compared to fenoxaprop-ethyl, a registered herbicide, for postemergence control of large crabgrass. Best large crabgrass control was provided by BAS 514 and fenoxaprop-ethyl. Use of BAS 514 gave equal turf quality, phytotoxicity to the turf, large crabgrass control, and stand compared to fenoxaprop-ethyl. Imazaquin and tridiphane reduced turf quality and were phytotoxic to both turf types, and did not control large crabgrass adequately.

PRE and POST herbicides were evaluated for their effects on root growth of Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue turf. All PRE treatments, bensulide at 14.0 kg ai ha−1, DCPA at 11.8 kg ha−1, dithiopyr at 0.4 kg ha−1, pendimethalin at 1.7 kg ha−1, and prodiamine at 0.6 kg ha−1, inhibited root growth when cores, 10 cm in diam and 2.5 cm deep, of herbicide-treated Kentucky bluegrass were placed into pots of perlite. Only prodiamine inhibited tall fescue rooting. None of the PRE treatments reduced rooting of grasses when 10-cm diam and 16-cm deep cores were sampled from the field. No differences in rooting were observed among any of the POST treatments on either species.

The functional relationships between rainfall intensities and amounts, and the washoff of dicamba and 3,6-DCSA from turfgrass foliage were determined. Dicamba was applied to Kentucky bluegrass field plots and the turfgrass was subjected to 2 to 58 mm of simulated rainfall 18 to 48 h later. Rainfall was applied at an average intensity of 20.6 or 39.9 mm h−1. The 39.9 mm h−1 intensity reduced dicamba washoff by 10% for a given amount of rainfall. Washoff of 3,6-DCSA was independent of rainfall intensity. When averaged over intensities, washoff of dicamba was best described by the equation y = 1 − 0.341x0.187, and 3,6-DCSA washoff by the equation y = exp(-0.210x), where x represents millimeters of rainfall and y, the proportion of compound remaining on the foliage after rainfall.

Methiozolin is a new isoxazoline herbicide that has scarcely been tested in Kentucky bluegrass turf. A field trial was conducted in Blacksburg, VA, to determine response of 110 Kentucky bluegrass varieties and winter annual weeds to sequential fall applications of methiozolin. At 1.5 and 6 mo after initial treatment (MAIT), Kentucky bluegrass injury I30 values (predicted methiozolin rate that causes 30% Kentucky bluegrass injury) ranged between 3.4 to more than 10 times the recommended methiozolin rate for annual bluegrass control. Methiozolin at all rates reduced cover of annual bluegrass, common chickweed, corn speedwell, hairy bittercress, mouseear chickweed, and Persian speedwell but increased cover of parsley-piert. For all varieties, methiozolin at 2 kg ai ha−1 increased Kentucky bluegrass cover, turf quality, and turf normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) relative to the nontreated check at 6 MAIT. Kentucky bluegrass relative cover change (RCC) was attributed primarily to weed control but was inversely correlated with methiozolin rates because of increased weed control and reduced Kentucky bluegrass growth. Despite the decline in RCC with increasing methiozolin rates, most Kentucky bluegrass varieties treated with the highest methiozolin rate (6 kg ha−1) still had greater Kentucky bluegrass cover than the nontreated check at 6 MAIT. Results from this study indicate that two fall applications of methiozolin at rates beyond that previously reported for annual bluegrass control can safely be applied to a broad range of Kentucky bluegrass varieties spanning most of the known genetic classifications.

Kentucky bluegrass was introduced into the present-day United States in the 1600s. Since that time, Kentucky bluegrass has spread throughout the United States and Canada becoming prolific in some areas. In the past century, Kentucky bluegrass has been a presence and often a dominant species in some prairies in the Northern Great Plains. Sometime within the past few decades, Kentucky bluegrass has become the most-common species on the untilled, native prairie sites of much of North and South Dakota. In this article, we hypothesize how Kentucky bluegrass has come to dominate one of the most endangered ecosystems in North America—the prairie—through a historical, ecological, and climatological lens. We urge others to start addressing the invasion of Kentucky bluegrass with both new research and management strategies.

Four rates of aminopyralid (30, 60, 90, and 120 g ae ha−1 [0.4, 0.9, 1.3, and 1.8 oz ae acre−1]) were compared for their ability to reduce abundance of nonnative dicot species and favor native species in an invaded Cascade Mountain meadow near Trout Lake, WA. Treatments were applied in two replicated studies (June 2009 and 2010), and foliar cover and species richness were monitored for two years. First-year control of nonnative dicots from application of 30 g ae ha−1 of aminopyralid (69%) was greater than that of native dicots (29%); whereas, significant control of both species groups occurred at the higher rates. By the second year after treatment, absolute differences in cover between treated and non-treated plots averaged −17% and −21% for native and nonnative dicots, respectively, and +1% and +27% for native and nonnative monocots, respectively. First-year control of Canada thistle and oxeye daisy was greater after treatment in 2009 (88% and 90%, respectively) than after treatment in 2010 (56% and 55%, respectively), probably because lower spring temperatures in 2010 limited vegetation development and plant susceptibility to aminopyralid. Cover of Kentucky bluegrass and sheep fescue averaged 20% and 6% greater, respectively, in treated plots than in non-treated plots. Application of 30 g ae ha−1 of aminopyralid had no detectable effect on second-year richness of native and nonnative species relative to non-treated plots; however, higher rates caused 24% to 43% reductions in richness of each species group. Research results suggest that application of aminopyralid at 30 g ae ha−1 has the potential to reduce abundance of nonnative dicot species in similar meadow communities of the Pacific Northwest with little or no negative impacts to abundance and richness of native species. As a potential strategy to limit the subsequent spread of Kentucky bluegrass, a grass herbicide, such as fluazifop or sethoxydim, could be added to the treatment.

Kentucky bluegrass, a nonnative species, has invaded rangelands in the United States and is currently present in most rangelands across the Northern Great Plains. Despite its accelerated expansion, the consequences of Kentucky bluegrass on the diversity of native plant species and on ecosystem services remain largely unknown. We synthesized the available data related to Kentucky bluegrass and how it affects native plant diversity and ecosystem services. We found that invasion may bring negative consequences to ecosystem services, such as pollination, habitat for wildlife species, and alteration of nutrient and hydrologic cycles, among others. To maintain the flow of ecosystem goods and services from these rangeland ecosystems, range science must adapt to the challenge of introduced, cool-season grass dominance in mixed-grass prairie. Based on our findings, we identify research needs that address ecosystem changes brought on by Kentucky bluegrass invasion and the corresponding effects these changes have on ecosystem services. We are dealing with novel ecosystems, and until we have better answers, adaptive management strategies that use the best available information need to be developed to adapt to the invasion of this pervasive invasive species.

Broadleaf weeds are common and troublesome pests in cool-season turfgrass species such as tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and creeping bentgrass. Broadleaf weeds are primarily managed in these grasses through POST applications of growth regulator herbicides in the phenoxy, benzoic acid, and pyridine chemical classes. There are disadvantages to use of these chemicals, including nontarget plant damage and limited residual control. Certain annual broadleaf weeds can be controlled through application of isoxaben or a PRE crabgrass herbicide, but these herbicides do not control emerged broadleaf weeds. There are advantages to use of sulfonylurea herbicides, including PRE and POST control of annual and perennial weeds, a different mode of action, and these herbicides have low vapor pressure, reducing the potential for offsite movement. There are disadvantages to the use of sulfonylurea herbicides, including limited spectrum of broadleaf weed species controlled and limited tolerance in cool-season turfgrass species. The primary sulfonylurea herbicides used in cool-season turfgrass are chlorsulfuron, halosulfuron, metsulfuron, and sulfosulfuron. There have been specialized uses for primisulfuron and tribenuron-methyl.

Several commercial and experimental adjuvants were evaluated for efficacy in enhancing activity and selectivity of quinclorac in two cultivars of canola and four turfgrass species. Weed species investigated included cleavers, annual sowthistle, large crabgrass, and goosegrass. Turfgrass species evaluated included Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, and creeping bentgrass. A variety of adjuvant types were selected, such as a methylated seed oil (Sunit II), a petroleum-based crop oil concentrate, the silicone-based Sylgard 309, a cationic fatty amine ethoxylate surfactant (Frigate), and modified crop oils (Dash and Merge). Adjuvant efficacy was evaluated by calculating the quinclorac rate required to reduce plant growth 50% (GR50) based on rates applied at 0, 15.6, 31.2, 62.5, and 125 g ai/ha. For goosegrass, quinclorac rates evaluated were increased to 250, 500, 1,000, and 2,000 g ai/ha. All evaluated adjuvants provided similar enhancement of control for cleavers and annual sowthistle. Sylgard 309 was the least effective adjuvant for control of large crabgrass. Goosegrass was tolerant to quinclorac across the evaluated rate range regardless of adjuvant; therefore, GR50 values could not be determined. None of the adjuvants alone caused phytotoxicity to canola or any turfgrass species.

Recent advances in genetic engineering have led to the development of glyphosate-resistant (GR) crops for genetic markers and selective weed control. The effects of glyphosate residue on turfgrass clippings could be toxic to non-GR species. The objective of this experiment was to determine whether glyphosate would retain activity within clippings of creeping bentgrass when applied to Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass. Greenhouse-grown ‘Penncross’ and GR ‘ASR-368’ were treated with glyphosate at 2.24 kg/ha. Clippings were collected 1, 3, 7, and 12 d after application and applied to greenhouse-grown Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass. Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass dry weight and percent cover were reduced by clippings receiving glyphosate that were harvested 1 and 3 d after glyphosate application from both susceptible and resistant creeping bentgrass. Results indicate that glyphosate remains active in clippings for up to 3 d after treatment within creeping bentgrass clippings. Glyphosate-applied creeping bentgrass clippings will need to be managed to prevent injury to susceptible species.

In the Grande Ronde Valley of eastern Oregon, two perennial grass species in the genus Puccinellia, weeping alkaligrass and Nuttall's alkaligrass, are weeds of Kentucky bluegrass grass-seed production fields. Weeping alkaligrass is introduced from Eurasia, whereas Nuttall's alkaligrass is native to the region. These two species were studied to determine dormancy attributes and optimal temperature conditions for seed germination. Results from the current studies indicate that both species have a high level of embryonic dormancy immediately following seed harvest, which is primarily eliminated through dry storage (afterripening) and an incubation temperature of 20 C. Following adequate afterripening, a prechill treatment of 5 d at 5 C had an inconsistent effect on germination of weeping alkaligrass (P = 0.012 in 2002, 0.156 in 2003) and improved germination of Nuttall's alkaligrass over both years (P < 0.0001). The afterripening requirement for weeping alkaligrass was more than 90 d, whereas Nuttall's alkaligrass required more than 180 d. Following adequate afterripening, both species had rapid and well-synchronized germination at fluctuating day/night temperatures of 30/10 C given unlimited moisture conditions. Given these results, it is unlikely that seeds of either species would germinate in eastern Oregon during the summer months. The data predict a long viability period under dry storage for both species. Weeping alkaligrass and Nuttall's alkaligrass should exhibit a rapid, well-synchronized germination in the spring as observed in the field.

The study of colonizing and of dominant grass species is essential for prairie conservation efforts. We sought to answer how naturalized Kentucky bluegrass in the northern Great Plains has become successful in the last 20 yr despite its long history in the northern Great Plains. We tested for evidence of geographical differentiation using flow cytometry and microsatellite markers to ascertain the population genetics of Kentucky bluegrass. Across all tested wild populations, high levels of genetic diversity were detected along with moderate levels of structure. Mantel tests of geographical patterns were not significant. Using clonal assignment, we found two major clones that made up the majority of the tested wild populations. When we compared the wild individuals to pedigree cultivars, we found virtually no genetic overlap across all tests, which did not support our hypothesis of developed cultivars contributing to high genetic diversity in natural populations. Furthermore, DNA content tests indicated a narrow range in ploidy in wild populations compared with lawn cultivars, further supporting a hypothesis of divergence between wild and pedigree cultivars. These results indicate the recent invasion of Kentucky bluegrass in the northern Great Plains is not because of adaptation or propagule pressure, but rather likely an environmental or land use shift.

Flea beetles (Aphthona spp.) were released in the Little Missouri National Grasslands (LMNG) in western North Dakota in 1999 to control leafy spurge. The changes in leafy spurge density and soil seedbank composition were evaluated on two ecological sites 10 yr (2009) after Aphthona spp. release to monitor the effectiveness of the insects on weed control and the associated changes in plant communities. In 2009, leafy spurge stem density averaged 2 and 9 stems m−2 (0.19 to 0.84 ft−2) in the loamy overflow and loamy sites, respectively, compared with 110 and 78 stems m−2, respectively, in 1999. Leafy spurge constituted nearly 67% of the loamy overflow seedbank in 1999, compared with 2% in 2009. In the loamy seedbank, the weed represented nearly 70% in 1999, compared with approximately 15% in 2009. As leafy spurge abundance was reduced, native species richness and seed count increased 10 yr after Aphthona spp. release. Late seral species represented 17% of the loamy overflow seedbank in 2009, an increase from 5% in 1999. However, Kentucky bluegrass, a nontarget weedy species, increased more than 250% in the loamy overflow seedbank. Late seral species were 38% of the loamy seedbank in 2009, compared with 13% in 1999. The number of native species increased from 31 in 1999 to 39 in 2009 in the loamy overflow seedbank, but only changed from 32 to 34 species in the loamy site during the same period. The reestablishment of native species has been slow, but seedbank analysis indicates the number and type of species found before the leafy spurge infestation have increased. Planting native species in selected areas may have reduced the lag time in these species return to the seedbank and reduced invasion from other nondesirable species, such as Kentucky bluegrass.