Premium
Effects of Paraquat on Yield and Quality of Coastal Bermudagrass 1
Author(s) -
Monson Warren G.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1977.00021962006900020029x
Subject(s) - paraquat , cynodon dactylon , forage , agronomy , hay , pasture , environmental science , biology , biochemistry
Paraquat (1, l'‐dimethyl‐4‐4‐bypyridinium ion) has been utilized as a pasture renovation tool and to provide “cured” standing forage for later utilization. This study was undertaken to determine the amount of standing ‘Coastal’ bermudagrass ( Cynodon dactylon L.) forage that can be successfully desiccated with paraquat. Subsequent effects on yield and quality of the grass were assessed. Accumulated Coastal bermudagrass up to 4 metric tons/ha can be effectively desiccated with paraquat. Quality of Coastal hay desiccated with paraquat decreased by more than 20%, within 1 week after treatment, indicating that this is not a practical means of providing cured forage in situ in the humid southeastern United States. Paraquat plus burning can be used to remove accumulated forage and redistribute some of the dry matter production or provide succulent regrowth in late summer if moisture is adequate. Paraquat plus burning to remove forage reduced yields significantly P < 0.05 when compared to mowed plots.