Pesticides for Turfgrass Pest Management: Uses and Environmental Issues

Given the pest complex which may damage turfgrass, a variety of pesticides may be used to promote turf health. Insecticides such as acephate, chlorpyrifos, fipronil, halofenozide, imidacloprid, and spinosad may be applied to control soil inhabiting or surface feeding insects. Broadleaf and annual grass weeds may be controlled with such herbicides as 2,4-D, pendimethalin, triclopyr, and oxadiazon. Fungicides such as azoxystrobin, chlorothalonil, fenarimol, or triadimefon may be employed for fungal pests. Aspects of the chemical control paradigm for turf pest management will be examined. Pesticides for turfgrass pest management are selectively applied to achieve turf protection yet minimize potential environmental impacts. Environmental assessments of existing and new products for use on turf require generation of data related to persistence, mobility (leaching, surface runoff, volatility), bioavailability, and ecological impact. Research programs and approaches for environmental assessment of turfgrass pesticides will be reviewed. Finally, case study examples regarding research that may be associated with an existing turf pesticide product as well as research required for development of a new pesticide for the turf market will be examined.