Composition and system for turf maintenance

Abstract

The present invention provides an agricultural composition comprising a plant growth regulator and a pigment that provides reduced phytotoxicity as compared to an equivalent application of the plant growth regulator alone. The composition can further include a fungicide. A system for turf management as well as methods for enhancing turf are also provided.

1 . An agricultural combination comprising:
 at least one plant growth regulator; and   at least one pigment,   wherein the composition provides phytoregulation.   
     
     
         2 . The agricultural combination of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one fungicide.   
     
     
         3 . The agricultural combination of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one plant growth regulator is ethephon, trinexapac ethyl, paclobutrazole, flurprimidol or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The agricultural combination of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one fungicide is fosetyl aluminum, trifloxystrobin, triadimefon, triticonazole, iprodione or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The agricultural combination of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one pigment is a phthalocyanine compound. 
     
     
         6 . The agricultural combination of  claim 5  wherein the phthalocyanine compound is Pigment Blue 16, Vat Blue 29, Pigment Blue 15, Heliogen Green GG, Ingrain Blue 14, Ingrain Blue 5, Ingrain Blue 1, Pigment Green 37, Pigment Green 7, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The agricultural composition of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one pigment is present in an amount of between about 1 to about 900 parts by weight of total combination. 
     
     
         8 . The agricultural composition of  claim 1 , wherein the combination is an aqueous suspension or a wettable powder. 
     
     
         9 . A method for enhancing turf comprising:
 applying an effective amount of a combination comprising at least one plant growth regulator in combination with a phytoregulating amount of at least one pigment.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein a first plant growth regulator is present in an approximate amount of about 1 to about 900 parts by weight of the total combination. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein a second plant growth regulator is present in an approximate amount of about 1 to about 900 parts by weight of the total combination. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein a pigment is present in an approximate amount of about 1 to about 900 parts by weight of the total combination. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said combination is applied in an amount of from about 300 to about 800 L/ha. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said combination is applied to turf selected from Bluegrass, Bentgrass, Fescue, Ryegrass, Wheatgrass, Beachgrass, Orchardgrass, Timothy, Smooth Brome, Bermudagrass, Zoysiagrass, St. Augustinegrass, Centipedegrass, Carpetgrass, Bahiagrass, Kikuyugrass, Buffalograss, Blue Grama, and Sideoats Grama. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the turf is Bluegrass, Bentgrass, Fescue, or Ryegrass. 
     
     
         16 . A system for turf management comprising:
 at least one seasonal application comprising:
 a) at least one pigment; and 
 b) at least one plant growth regulator wherein at least one of the plant growth regulators targets growth retardation. 
   
     
     
         17 . The system for turf management of  claim 16  further comprising:
 an additional seasonal application comprising:
 a) at least one pigment; and 
 b) two or more plant growth regulators wherein at least one of the plant growth regulators targets seed head reduction and at least one of the plant growth regulators targets growth retardation. 
 
 
     
     
         18 . The system for turf management of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 an additional seasonal application comprising:
 a) at least one fungicide; 
 b) at least one pigment; and 
 c) two or more plant growth regulators wherein at least one of the plant growth regulators targets seed head reduction and at least one of the plant growth regulators targets growth retardation. 
   
     
     
         19 . The system for turf management of  claim 16 , comprising:
 1) a first seasonal application comprising:
 a) at least one fungicide; 
 b) at least one pigment; and 
 c) two or more plant growth regulators wherein at least one of the plant growth regulators targets seed head reduction and at least one of the plant growth regulators targets growth retardation; 
   2) a second seasonal application comprising:
 a) at least one pigment; and 
 b) two or more plant growth regulators wherein at least one of the plant growth regulators targets seed head reduction and at least one of the plant growth regulators targets growth retardation; and 
   3) a third seasonal application comprising:
 a) at least one pigment; and 
 b) at least one plant growth regulators wherein at least one of the plant growth regulators targets growth retardation. 
   
     
     
         20 . The system for turf management of  claim 19  wherein the first seasonal application is applied when average daily temperatures are about 30° F. to about 80° F.; the second seasonal application is applied when average daily temperatures are about 55° F. to about 95° F.; and the third seasonal application is applied when average daily temperatures are about 30° F. to about 85° F.