Handheld thermal torches could possibly become a tool to reduce glyphosate-resistant annual bluegrass populations. One month after treatment, 5- and 6-second handheld thermal heat treatments reduced annual bluegrass populations by 50 and 60%, respectively

Alderman, E.

Hoyle, J.

Reeves, J.

English

Kansas State University

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports Volume 1 Issue 6 Turfgrass Research Article 15 January 2015 Use of a Handheld Thermal Torch as a Herbicide-Resistance Management Tool J. Hoyle Kansas State University, jahoyle@ksu.edu J. Reeves Kansas State University, jakereeves@ksu.edu E. Alderman Kansas State University, ejalderman@ksu.edu This report is brought to you for free and open access by New Prairie Press. It has been accepted for inclusion in Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports by an authorized administrator of New Prairie Press. Copyright January 2015 Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service. Contents of this publication may be freely reproduced for educational purposes. All other rights reserved. Brand names appearing in this publication are for product identification purposes only. No endorsement is intended, nor is criticism implied of similar products not mentioned. K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Follow this and additional works at: https://newprairiepress.org/kaesrr  Part of the Horticulture Commons Recommended Citation Hoyle, J.; Reeves, J.; and Alderman, E. (2015) "Use of a Handheld Thermal Torch as a Herbicide-Resistance Management Tool," Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports: Vol. 1: Iss. 6. https://doi.org/10.4148/2378-5977.1103 Use of a Handheld Thermal Torch as a Herbicide-Resistance Management Tool Abstract Handheld thermal torches could possibly become a tool to reduce glyphosate-resistant annual bluegrass populations. One month after treatment, 5- and 6-second handheld thermal heat treatments reduced annual bluegrass populations by 50 and 60%, respectively. Keywords turfgrass, thermal torch, herbicide-resistance management, annual bluegrass, Poa annua, glyphosate, glyphosate resistance Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. This research report is available in Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports: https://newprairiepress.org/kaesrr/vol1/iss6/15 Kansas State University  Agricultural Experiment Station  and Cooperative Extension ServiceK-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.Turfgrass Research  2015View all turfgrass research reports online at: http://newprairiepress.org/kaesrrJuly 2015Use of a Handheld Thermal Torch as a Herbicide-Resistance Management ToolJared Hoyle, Jake Reeves, and Evan AldermanSummary. Handheld thermal torches could possibly become a tool to reduce glyphosate-resistant annual bluegrass populations. One month after treatment, 5- and 6-second handheld thermal heat treatments reduced annual bluegrass populations by 50 and 60%, respectively. Rationale. Turfgrass managers repeatedly apply glyphosate on dormant turf-grass for annual bluegrass (Poa annua) control. Glyphosate-resistant annual bluegrass is becoming increasingly common in turfgrass systems. Prior to broad outbreaks of resistant annual bluegrass, it is possible that small resistant popula-tions may be controlled with thermal destruction, breaking the resistance cycle. Limited research has been conducted to explore annual bluegrass control with a handheld thermal torch.Objectives. Evaluate the duration of thermal heat for annual bluegrass control.Study Description. A field trial was initiated in spring of 2015 at Stagg Hill Golf Course in Manhattan, Kansas, Research was performed on a ‘Meyer’ zoysiagrass (Z. japonica Steud.) fairway maintained a 1.9 cm mowing height. At trial initiation (March 10, 2015) the research trial area contained approxi-mately 15% annual bluegrass cover (35 to 50 annual bluegrass plants per plot) at the 6- to 8-tiller stage. Oxadiazon (3 kg ha-1) was applied to entire research area to prevent further annual bluegrass emergence. Treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Treatments were applied to 3 by 3 ft plots and consisted of thermal heat at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 seconds. A glyphosate application (1.1 kg ai ha-1) was included for comparison. Kansas State University  Agricultural Experiment Station  and Cooperative Extension ServiceThermal heat treatments were applied 5 inches from soil surface by a handheld torch (Mini Dragon; VT1-32C; 25,000 BTU) by Flame Engineering (Figure 1). Data included annual bluegrass plant counts, maximum annual bluegrass crown temperature at application, and visual zoysiagrass injury or charring. Results. At treatment application, with an increase in thermal heat duration, maximum annual bluegrass crown temperature also increased. Annual blue-grass crown temperature resulted in 380°F, 540°F, and 550°F, for 1-, 2-, and 3-second treatments, respectively. Treatments that utilized thermal heat for ≥4 seconds we not recorded, as temperatures were greater than the inferred ther-mometer threshold (≥610°F). Although initial zoysiagrass injury (10 to 75% zoyisagrass charring) was observed (Figure 2) from all thermal heat durations, zoysiagrass greenup was not delayed one month after application (April 8, 2015). One month after treatment, 5- and 6-second thermal heat treatments reduced annual bluegrass populations by 50 and 60%, respectively. Initial research suggests that thermal heat treatments from a handheld torch could possibly aid in reducing glyphosate-resistant annual bluegrass populations prior to a widespread outbreak.Kansas State University  Agricultural Experiment Station  and Cooperative Extension ServiceFigure 1. Handheld thermal treatment torch by Flame Engineering (Mini Dragon, VT1-32C) with modified distance marker. Distance marker was used to ensure exact distance from flame to treated plant.Kansas State University  Agricultural Experiment Station  and Cooperative Extension ServiceFigure 2. Initial charring of annual bluegrass plants by handheld thermal torch. 

Use of a Handheld Thermal Torch as a Herbicide-Resistance Management Tool

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Use of a Handheld Thermal Torch as a Herbicide-Resistance Management Tool

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