Articles
NURSERIES LEARNING FROM THE TURF INDUSTRY©
Article number
1014_15
Pages
79 – 87
Language
English
Abstract
Many chemicals and other specialist products are widely used in the turf industry.
Many of these can have major benefits for the nursery industry, but only if they are ultimately registered or trialled in the growing of plants.
Ronstar® (oxadiazon) is one such chemical that has a dual use in the turf and nursery industries.
A new product for use on turf in Australia, sold under the brand name of Barricade® with the active ingredient prodiamine has been used for some time in the USA both on turf and in the nursery industry for growing plants in pots.
This pre-emergent has only been registered for use as a turf pre-emergent in Australia, but in the USA it is a major chemical used to stop or reduce weed germination in many pot grown nursery crops in the USA. Many use it in the USA due to its lack of adverse effects on pot grown plants, and its ability to greatly reduce weed infestation.
In Australia, most nurseries appear to use Rout® and Ronstar.
Although good for weed control, I have witnessed firsthand many times the adverse effects on certain crops, particularly strappy leaf plants.
Rout seems to be better suited to woody plants, such as trees.
The other problem with these chemicals is they have to be applied in granular form.
Often spraying over the top is more efficient, and the use of a chemical such as Barricade could greatly reduce costs for Australian nurseries.
With the help of Syngenta, Ozbreed has for a 12 month period tested this chemical on a number of popular Australian nursery grown plants.
As Ozbreed has these plants in the USA, where the chemical is registered, it was easy to test these plants.
Barricade is widely used by nurseries growing Ozbreed plants in the USA. Indications are that this chemical has the potential to greatly reduce hand weeding in nurseries.
Ozbreed also took cuttings and divisions of plants that had the chemical applied 3 months prior, and monitored the effect.
Ozbreed also conducted limited testing on two brands of oryzalin, namely ProlanTM and Embargo®. Both these have some registered use allowable on ornamentals.
Another product that is often used by the turf industry in Australia is Carbon Trader.
Carbon Trader is a high loading formulation of carbon (activated charcoal) that also contains small amounts of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium.
It is used on turf to enhance winter growth, and keep turf greener in winter.
Ozbreed recently tested this on a large number of replicated turf plots and plants.
This research indicates this product has potential in growing better winter and early spring crops of many plant types.
It was also tested for improved cutting strike on Westringia plants.
Many of these can have major benefits for the nursery industry, but only if they are ultimately registered or trialled in the growing of plants.
Ronstar® (oxadiazon) is one such chemical that has a dual use in the turf and nursery industries.
A new product for use on turf in Australia, sold under the brand name of Barricade® with the active ingredient prodiamine has been used for some time in the USA both on turf and in the nursery industry for growing plants in pots.
This pre-emergent has only been registered for use as a turf pre-emergent in Australia, but in the USA it is a major chemical used to stop or reduce weed germination in many pot grown nursery crops in the USA. Many use it in the USA due to its lack of adverse effects on pot grown plants, and its ability to greatly reduce weed infestation.
In Australia, most nurseries appear to use Rout® and Ronstar.
Although good for weed control, I have witnessed firsthand many times the adverse effects on certain crops, particularly strappy leaf plants.
Rout seems to be better suited to woody plants, such as trees.
The other problem with these chemicals is they have to be applied in granular form.
Often spraying over the top is more efficient, and the use of a chemical such as Barricade could greatly reduce costs for Australian nurseries.
With the help of Syngenta, Ozbreed has for a 12 month period tested this chemical on a number of popular Australian nursery grown plants.
As Ozbreed has these plants in the USA, where the chemical is registered, it was easy to test these plants.
Barricade is widely used by nurseries growing Ozbreed plants in the USA. Indications are that this chemical has the potential to greatly reduce hand weeding in nurseries.
Ozbreed also took cuttings and divisions of plants that had the chemical applied 3 months prior, and monitored the effect.
Ozbreed also conducted limited testing on two brands of oryzalin, namely ProlanTM and Embargo®. Both these have some registered use allowable on ornamentals.
Another product that is often used by the turf industry in Australia is Carbon Trader.
Carbon Trader is a high loading formulation of carbon (activated charcoal) that also contains small amounts of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium.
It is used on turf to enhance winter growth, and keep turf greener in winter.
Ozbreed recently tested this on a large number of replicated turf plots and plants.
This research indicates this product has potential in growing better winter and early spring crops of many plant types.
It was also tested for improved cutting strike on Westringia plants.
Authors
T. Layt
Keywords
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