Dogonit Application to Improve Turfgrass Recovery
from
Dog Urine Injury - 2007
D. S. Gardner
Dept. of Horticulture and Crop Science, The Ohio State University
Introduction
A study was conducted to determine if Dogonit, a product from Millenium Lawns, can hasten the recovery of Kentucky bluegrass following injury caused by dog urine.
Materials and Methods
This study was conducted at The Ohio Turfgrass Foundation Research and Education Center at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. The site of the experiment was an area of Kentucky bluegrass maintained at 3” that was relatively weed free.
Individual treatment plots were 2 x 2 ft and there were 4 treatments including an untreated control (Table 1). The experimental design was a randomized complete block with 3 replications.
Treatments were applied on May 23, 2007. Immediately after receiving dog urine shipment, it was heated to 103 degress and applied at a rate of 3 oz per spot over an area roughy 5 inches in diameter. Immediately following this application, Dogonit (13 depressions of the trigger) or Dogonit plus 16 oz of water were applied to the spot. Data were collected at 0, 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, 35, and 49 days after application of treatments (DAT). Data were collected as injury ratings at 1 and 3 DAT. The diameter of the spot was measured at 7-49 DAT and the area of the spot was then calculated.
The data were analyzed using the General Linear Models procedure of SAS. Fishers protected LSD was conducted on both the injury and the spot diameter data.
Results and Discussion
No spot was visible in the check plots (trt 1) on any data (Table 1). The plots that received dog urine only (trt 2) averaged significant injury at 3 DAT, but was such that recovery of the turf would be expected in about 1 month. At 7 DAT theses urine spots had a mean surface area of 28 square inches. This decreased to 9 square inches at 14 DAT, 2 square inches at 35 DAT, and 0 at 49 DAT.
Spots that were treated with Dogonit alone (trt 3) were significantly larger than the untreated spots at 7 DAT. They were also larger, though not statistically different, than the untreated spots for the remainder of the trial. Spots that were treated with Dogonit followed by 16 oz of water had significantly less injury at 3 DAT and were significantly smaller at 7 and 14 DAT. In addition, spots that were treated with Dogonit and water were completely healed at 21 DAT.
Based on the results of this trial it appears that Dogonit, when used according to label directions, will hasten recovery of turfgrass.
Table 1. Response of Kentucky bluegrass to simulated dog urine burn followed by application of either Dogonit or Dogonit and 16 oz of water at Ohio State University in 2007.
|
|
_____Days After Treatment (DAT)____ |
Trt |
Product |
1 |
3 |
7 |
14 |
21 |
35 |
49 |
|
|
Turfgrass Injury (%)† |
_________Spot Area (Inches) _________ |
1 |
Untreated Check |
1 |
0.0c‡ |
0c |
0b |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
FCU |
1 |
5.7ab |
28b |
9ab |
9 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
FCU+Dogonit |
1 |
6.0a |
43a |
13a |
11 |
9 |
0 |
4 |
FCU+Dogonit+H2O |
1 |
2.0bc |
4c |
1b |
0 |
0 |
0 |
LSD (0.05) |
-- |
3.7 |
14 |
10 |
NS¶ |
NS |
-- |
† Injury rated on a 1-10 scale where 1-2 = Considered slightly noticeable to a researcher, but within an acceptable range of damage to turfgrass; 3 = injury is noticeable to a researcher and homeowner and is within acceptable range of damage to turfgrass; Injury greater than 4 is considered unacceptable.; 5-6 = Full recovery from injury is expected within 1 month; and >6 = Not expected to fully recover from injury.
‡ Means followed by the same letter are not significantly different according to Fisher’s Protected LSD test.
¶ Means are not significantly different (P=0.05) according to Fisher’s Protected LSD test.
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