Weed Control With Herbicide-Coated or -Blended Fertilizer in ‘August Beauty’ Gardenia
Prostrate spurge (Euphorbia maculata L.) control and injury to container-grown ‘August Beauty’ gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides Ellis) were evaluated using Ronstar 50WP (oxadiazon) or Pennant 7.8E (metolachlor)-coated or Ronstar 2G (oxadiazon) or Pennant 5G (metolachlor)-blended Nursery Special 12N–2.6P–5.0K (12–6–6) fertilizer. Herbicides were applied at 4 rates, 2.3, 4.5, 9.0, and 18.0 kg ai/ha (2, 4, 8, and 16 lb ai/A) and compared to broadcast and spray applied pre-emergence herbicide applications at 4.5 kg ai/ha (4 lb ai/A). Ronstar (oxadiazon)-coated or -blended Nursery Special at all rates, except 2.3 kg ai/ha (2 lb ai/A) provided similar weed control to the broadcast or spray applied controls. Pennant (metolachlor)-coated or -blended fertilizer controlled spurge only at 18.0 kg ai/ha (16 lb ai/A). Weed control was similar when comparing herbicide formulation (coated vs. blended). Gardenia growth was similar among treatments and no injury symptoms were observed with any treatment.Abstract
Contributor Notes
This research was funded, in part, by a grant from The Horticultural Research Institute, 1250 I Street NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20005. The authors would also like to thank Pursell Industries for supporting this research
2Graduate Research Assistant.
3Professor of Horticulture.
4Associate Professor of Horticulture.
5Associate Professor of Agronomy and Soils.