1998

ST. AUGUSTINE BROWN PATCH CONTROL

DEMONSTRATION

Victoria College, Cooperator

Joe D. Janak, C.E.A.

Chapel Schuessler, C.E.A.

Victoria, Texas Victoria County Pct. #2



SUMMARY:

In an evaluation comparing two fungicides and cornmeal to control St. Augustine Brown Patch disease, Greenlight Fung-Away (Bayleton) provided the greatest recovery of the turfgrass followed by the cornmeal and then Hi-Yield Terrachlor.



PROBLEM:

St. Augustine lawns in Victoria County suffer repeated attacks of turfgrass diseases particularly Brown Patch and Take All Patch causing homeowners and businesses to spend hundreds of dollars annually on disease control.



OBJECTIVES:

To evaluate two common fungicides and an organic product for controlling Brown Patch disease in St. Augustine turf.



MATERIALS/METHODS:

Three sites at the Victoria College were identified as diseased with Brown Patch as diagnosed by Texas A&M University Plant Pathology Lab. On October 30, 1998 each site was divided into three plots and each plot was treated using an EZ Broadcast Push-type Spreader. Treatments included: Greenlight Fung-Away, Hi-Yield Terrachlor and an organic method, plain cornmeal. Treatments were used at the curative rate and the cornmeal was used at 10 lbs/1000 square feet. Evaluations were made at 2 and 4 weeks after treatment.



RESULTS/DISCUSSIONS:

Visual evaluations were made at 2 and 4 weeks after treatment rating the plots on the best overall appearance. There was little major difference noted within the treatments. Although when scores among the three replications were averaged, the Greenlight Fung-Away (Bayleton) fungicide received the highest visual rating and had the lowest noticeable incidences of Brown Patch disease (See Table 1).

The cornmeal is claimed to provide food (starch) for the good bacteria in the turfgrass which themselves feed on the Brown Patch disease organisms. There was a trend for the cornmeal treated turfgrass to look better than the untreated check and even better than the terrachlor plots.

TABLE 1. Effects of two fungicides and cornmeal on controlling Brown Patch in St. Augustine turf. Victoria College, Sam Sagebiel, Cooperator, Victoria County, TX 1998.



TREATMENT		 RATE/1000 SQ.FT. VISUAL EVALUATION SCORE (1) % OF SITE WITH VISUAL SYMPTOMS OF BROWN PATCH
NOV. 15 DEC. 1
GREENLIGHT FUNG-AWAY (BAYLETON) 6 BLS. 89 89 72
HI-YIELD TERRACHLOR 8 LBS. 44 44 85
CORNMEAL 10 LBS. 66 66 77
CHECK - 33 33 85

(1) Score equals 0 - 100 with 100 being excellent recovery.



ECONOMIC ANALYSIS & IMPACT:

Greenlight Fung-Away (Bayleton) fungicide provided the best recovery of the diseased turfgrass. Using the right fungicide can save yard owners money and provide appealing turfgrasses.



CONCLUSION:

Brown Patch in St. Augustine turfgrass lawns is a serious problem in most years and an effective control could provide relief to homeowners. Bayleton fungicide sold by Greenlight as Greenlight Fung-Away provided the best recovery of the diseased turfgrass.



ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:

Appreciation is expressed to Victoria College for donating the products for testing and to Sam Sagebiel, College Lawn Supervisor for assistance in application and evaluations.