Selective Control of Annual Bluegrass in Kentucky Bluegrass Turf With Linuron

Optimum top growth of annual bluegrass (Pao annua L.) and Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) was obtained at 24/12 °C day/night temperature regime in controlled environment studies. The tolerance of seedling Kentucky bluegrass to linuron [3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1)methylurea] appeared to be greatest at this temperature regime when photoperiods were 16 h in length. A granular formulation of linuron gave excellent control of annual bluegrass in Kentucky bluegrass turf at 6.7 kg/ha when applied postemergence. At this rate, all culitivars of Kentucky bluegrass tested, with the exception of Fylking, were tolerant to linuron as a granular formulation. After application of linuron at 3.4–6.7 kg/ha, phytotoxic residues remained in the soil at sufficient levels to injure seedling Kentucky bluegrass for up to 3 mo.