2017 article

Irrigation and Soil Surfactants Affect Abamectin Distribution in Soil

CROP SCIENCE, Vol. 57, pp. 573–580.

By: T. Gannon n, M. Jeffries n & K. Ahmed n

co-author countries: United States of America 🇺🇸
Source: Web Of Science
Added: August 6, 2018

Nematodes are microscopic, soil‐dwelling organisms that adversely affect many turfgrass systems, including golf course putting greens. Abamectin controls many nematode species in golf course putting greens; however, high sorption to accumulated organic matter near the soil surface in established turfgrass systems may limit its distribution in soil, thereby limiting its efficacy. Field research was conducted on ‘A1/A4’ creeping bentgrass and ‘Champion’ ultradwarf bermudagrass putting greens to evaluate abamectin distribution in soil following treatment regimens including abamectin application (37 g a.i. ha –1 ) alone, or tank‐mixed with soil surfactant (Revolution) in tandem with various irrigation timings to promote downward distribution. Laboratory research was also conducted to evaluate 14 C‐abamectin soil distribution via treatments comprised of various combinations of simulated irrigation amounts and timings, as well as soil surfactant type (Dispatch or Qualibra) and timing with respect to abamectin application. Abamectin distributed similarly in soil across turfgrass species in field research. At 7 d after treatment (DAT), all irrigation–soil surfactant regimens increased abamectin distribution to the 0‐ to 2.5‐cm soil depth compared with broadcast spray alone; however, no evaluated regimen resulted in >2% of the applied abamectin movement beyond 2.5 cm. In laboratory experiments, 14 C‐abamectin soil distribution was affected most by soil surfactant at 3 DAT, with Qualibra increasing distribution (8.2 to 18.4% of applied) to 7.5 cm depth compared with Dispatch or no surfactant. As in field research, irrigation amounts and timings generally affected 14 C‐abamectin similarly. This research highlights practices to enhance distribution into the profile, thereby increasing bioavailability and efficacy.