Efficacy of Corn Gluten Meal for CommonDandelion and Smooth Crabgrass ControlCompared to Nitrogen Fertilizers

摘要

Corn gluten meal (CGM) is a naturally derived weed control/fertilizer that mayallow for reduction in herbicide use on turfgrass. Previously it has been reportedthat CGM inhibits root production and reduces naturally occurring weedpopulations. It is unclear if weed population reductions are due to herbicidalactivity or increased competition of the turfgrass species from nitrogen in CGM.Our objective was to compare three N sources (CGM, Milorganite, and urea) withthree application strategies (equivalent of 1.8 lb N/1000 ft~2 with half applied inspring plus half applied in fall, 3.6 lb N/1000 ft~2 with half applied in spring plus halfapplied in fall, and 3.6 lb/1000 ft~2 applied in spring). CGM provided equivalent orlower quality ratings compared to Milorganite or urea throughout the two-yearstudy. Common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale G.H. Weber ex Wiggers) counts (0to 1004/100 ft~2) and smooth crabgrass [Digitaria ischaemum (Shreb) Shreb. exMuhl.] coverage (5 to 90%) were similar for treatments receiving CGM,Milorganite, and urea. In this study, CGM provided no additional benefit in weedcontrol compared to products containing only N. Fertilizing with 3.6 lb ofN/1000 ft~2 resulted in higher turf quality with less weeds than plots receiving only1.8 lb of N/1000 ft~2.