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Influence of Management Practices on Distribution of Fungicides in Golf Course Turf
Author(s) -
Ou Ling,
Latin Richard
Publication year - 2018
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/agronj2018.02.0115
Subject(s) - fungicide , azoxystrobin , irrigation , agronomy , propiconazole , wetting , horticulture , chemistry , biology , materials science , composite material
Core Ideas Most fungicide residues remained within the verdure/thatch layer. Irrigation and wetting agent had little effect on fungicide distribution. Distribution patterns for four modern fungicides were similar.Fungicides are often applied to control root diseases that affect golf course turf. Post‐application irrigation and wetting agents are suggested to improve fungicide performance by facilitating downward movement into the root zone. How irrigation and wetting agent treatments influence fungicide distribution in the turf profile remains unclear based on existing literature. The research objective was to investigate the influence of a wetting agent and post‐application irrigation on the distribution of modern fungicides in a sand‐based creeping bentgrass ( Agrostis stolonifera L.) putting green. Fungicides used in two distinct experimental runs in field plots included azoxystrobin, fluxapyroxad, propiconazole, and pyraclostrobin. Fungicide + irrigation, fungicide + wetting agent, and fungicide + irrigation + wetting agent treatment effects were compared with a fungicide‐only treatment. Turf was sampled at –1, 0, 3, 7, 10, 14, 21, and 28 d after fungicide application. Core samples were collected and separated into three components—verdure/thatch, and soil at two depths, 2 to 5 and 5 to 8 cm. Fungicide was extracted from each turf component and analyzed thereafter using liquid chromatography–triple quadrupole mass spectroscopy. Results showed that the majority of fungicide was captured by verdure/thatch, and that fungicide concentration in verdure/thatch was 1 to 2 orders of magnitude higher compared with other turf components. Further, in almost every case, there was no measurable effect of irrigation, wetting agent, or the combination on fungicide distribution in the turf profile. Research results can help improve understanding of fungicide distribution in turf and provide scientific context for recommendations regarding root disease control in golf course turf.