Smutgrass (Sporobolus indicus) is a non-native warm-season perennial weed that continually invades bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum) forage systems in the Coastal Plains Region of the Southeastern United States. A small plot trial was established to evaluate the effectiveness and economics of integrated weed management strategies for controlling smutgrass in bahiagrass grown in Alapaha, GA. Treatment combinations included Indaziflam (PRE), Hexazinone (POST), with fertilizer. Initially, all plots had a similar visual concentration of smutgrass (P = 0.59). The combination of PRE- and POST-emergent herbicides with N and K fertilizer resulted in greater reduction of smutgrass and less bahiagrass injury than POST-emergent herbicide alone. A preliminary economic analysis demonstrated that a fully integrated management strategy, unlike the current practice of POST alone, displayed significant savings when compared to complete bahiagrass renovation. Consequently, the fully integrated management plan has both agronomic and economic benefits for producers controlling smutgrass in bahiagrass fields.
