EFFICACY OF TERRACYTE PRO ON LIVERWORT

Transcription

1 LLC 22 Meadow Street East Hartford, CT (toll-free) fax: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR(S): C.E.Beste and J.R.Frank, University of Maryland, Salisbury, MD 2181 CROP(S): Littleleaf Boxwood (Buxus microphylla Sibold & Zucc. v. Winter Gem ) DISEASE: Liverwort (Marchantia) EFFICACY OF TERRACYTE PRO ON LIVERWORT in Littleleaf Boxwood, 21. Liverworts (Marchantia and others) can be a significant problem for container production. They compete for water and nutrients with the actual crop. Heavy infestations of liverworts can result in significant runoff of applied irrigation water including fertilizers and pesticides. Water soaks the substrate resulting in wastage of applied materials and increases environmental pollution from surface runoff. A 21 IR-4 study conducted by C.E. Beste and J.R. Frank at the University of Maryland evaluated BioSafe Systems TerraCytePRO (TCP) for it s potential to control liverworts in Littleleaf Boxwood. TCP is 85.% water soluble granules (crystals) of Sodium Carbonate Peroxyhydrate (Contains 27.6% Hydrogen Peroxide by weight). The experiments were conducted at a commercial nursery (Marshall s Riverbank Nurseries, Salisbury, MD) during winter/spring of 21. Boxwood rooted cuttings were transplanted in September 29 and has been pruned prior to TCP application. Liverwort gemma cups and/or gametophores were developing on the plant surface when applications were made. TCP was applied as a granular and as a liquid. Rates and treatment dates are in table 1. TCP-1: TCP granules at 7.5 lbs./ sq. ft. were applied as a single broadcast by hand as a directed application and spread uniformly under the plants on the pot media surface and liverworts. Plants and liverwort were irrigated with.1 inch of water before and after application of product using.1 inch of water applied with a sprinkler. 1

2 TCP-2: TCP granules at 14. lbs./ sq. ft. were applied as a single broadcast by hand as a directed application and spread uniformly under the plants on the pot media surface and liverworts. Plants and liverwort were irrigated with.1 inch of water before and after application of product using.1 inch of water applied with a sprinkler. TCP-3: TCP was applied as a solution by mixing.5-1. lbs. of TCP/gallon of water and applied at GPA. Two broadcast spray applications were made on February 19 and March 25, 21 over the top of Littleleaf Boxwood using a CO 2 powered boom sprayer. TCP-4: TCP was applied as a solution by mixing.79 lbs. of TCP/gallon of water and applied at GPA. One broadcast spray application was made over the top of Littleleaf Boxwood using a CO 2 powered boom sprayer. TCP-5: TCP was applied as a solution by mixing.79 lbs. of TCP/gallon of water and applied at 2 GPA. One broadcast spray application was made over the top of Littleleaf Boxwood using a CO 2 powered boom sprayer. TABLE 1. TerraCytePRO: Application Rates and Intervals Treatment Application Method Rate Number of Applications Date(s) of Application TCP-1 Granular 7.5 lbs./ sq. ft. 1 April 1, 21 TCP-2 Granular 14. lbs./ sq. ft. 1 February 19, 21 2 TCP-3 Liquid.-1. lbs./gallon; gallons of mixed solution per acre 1st Application.5 lbs./gallon; GPA 2nd Application 1. lbs./gallon; GPA February 19, 21 March 25, 21 TCP-4 Liquid.79 lbs./gallon; gallons of mixed solution per acre 1 April 1, 21 TCP-5 Liquid.79 lbs./gallon; 2 gallons of mixed solution per acre 1 April 1, 21 2

3 TCP-1: Before the application on April 1, 21, Liverwort pot cover was not significantly different for all treatments with 78% cover for the untreated control and Liverwort pot cover was 63% for the treatment plot. One day after the TCP application at 7.5 lbs./ sq. ft., the Liverwort pot cover was reduced to 9%. Liverwort pot cover in the untreated control decreased to 65% in the 3 day observation period after application; whereas, the TCP treatment decreased the Liverwort pot cover to 3% (Fig.1). No significant phytotoxicity occurred on Littleleaf Boxwood Winter Gem with broadcast granular/crystal applications of TCP. Also, initial boxwood plant sizes were not significantly different but plant size was not obtained at the conclusion of this study. No reduction in crop marketability by broadcast TCP granular/crystals would be expected. Figure 1. TerraCytePRO at 7.5 lbs./ sq. ft. on in Littleleaf Boxwood Winter Gem 1 DAT 3 DAT TCP-7.5 lbs./ sq. ft., Inoculated TCP-2: At the time of application, February 19, 21, the percent of weed cover in the untreated control containers was 67% while the containers in the 2X treatment containers was 69%. On February 26, 21, seven days after application, the untreated control containers had 65 cover and the treated containers had 4 cover. 3

4 At the end of the trial, April 28, 21, 68 days after treatment, the containers which were treated only had 4% Liverwort weed cover (Fig. 2). No significant phytotoxicity or differences in height or width were observed with any Littleleaf Boxwood. No reduction in marketability would be expected. Figure 2. TerraCytePRO at 14. lbs./ sq. ft. on in Littleleaf Boxwood Winter Gem 7 DAT 68 DAT TCP-14. lbs./ sq. ft. TCP-3: The percent of Liverwort (Marchantia sp.) cover at the first application date was 76% in the treated containers. The dilute spray solution was mixed with water 4 hours before application and the delay in application appeared to cause failure of the treatment to control Liverwort. In the 34 day interval between applications, no reduction of Liverwort pot cover was observed with the TCP treatment. The second broadcast application of TCP product was lbs. product acre (2X rate) in gal./a spray volume. At 6 days after the second application, Liverwort percent pot surface cover was significantly reduced from 8% cover to 15% cover. At the end of the trial, 34 days after the second application, Liverwort pot cover was significantly reduced from 62% cover in the untreated control to 26% cover with lbs. TCP product/acre (Fig.3). The increase in Liverwort pot cover from 15% to 26% cover in 28 days between ratings indicated a slight regrowth of liverwort resumed. Efficacy of TCP appears to require immedi- 4

5 ate application after mixing, because the second spray was applied immediately (5 min.) after mixing; whereas, the first application was mixed for 4 hours before application. Effervescence occurred during mixing of the second application which continued during the spray application and was probably caused by hydrogen peroxide from the peroxyhydrate. Effervescence did not occur with TCP mixed for 4 hours before application. No significant differences in phytotoxicity, height, or width of Littleleaf Boxwood was observed during this trial. No reduction in crop marketability would be expected. TCP at a 2X rate was not injurious to Littleleaf Boxwood. Figure 3. TerraCytePRO at.5-1. lbs./gallon on in Littleleaf Boxwood Winter Gem 6 DASA 34 DASA TCP lbs./gallons TCP-4 and TCP-5: Before the application on April 1, 21, Liverwort (Marchantia sp.) pot cover was not significantly different for all treatments with 65% cover for the untreated control and Liverwort pot cover was 43% and 59% for treatment numbers 2 and 3, respectively. One day after the TCP 85% application at 79 lbs. and 134 lbs. product/a, the Liverwort pot cover was reduced to 4% and % (none present), respectively. Liverwort pot cover in the untreated control increased from 65% to % in the 3 day observation period after application; whereas, the treated containers had virtually no regrowth of Liverwort (Fig. 4). No significant phytotoxicity occurred on Littleleaf 5

6 Boxwood Schmidt with broadcast spray applications of TCP 85%. Initial boxwood plant sizes were not significantly different, but plant size was not obtained at the conclusion of this study. No reduction in crop marketability by broadcast TCP 85% would be expected. Broadcast spray TCP at a 2X rate was not injurious to Littleleaf Boxwood Schmidt. Results from this study suggest that TerraCytePRO applied either as granular broadcast ( lbs./ sq. ft.) or as a liquid spray (.5 lbs.-1. lbs./gallon with -2 GPA) distributed uniformly over the canopy of boxwood plants was an efficacious treatment for Liverwort control. Figure 4. TerraCytePRO at.79 lbs./gallon on in Littleleaf Boxwood Schmidt 1 DAT 3 DAT TCP-.79 lbs./gallons; GPA TCP-.79 lbs./gallons; 2 GPA (This summary report includes content and data adapted from IR-4 Study report by C.E.Beste and A.R.Frank., 21 and does not necessarily represent all the treatments and/or data included in the original report. For full report, please contact BioSafe Systems). LLC (toll-free) Fax: