Analysis of the Main Types of Lawn Pests, Diseases, and Weeds in China and the Current Status of Pesticide Registration

Lawns serve multiple functions, including beautifying the environment, absorbing toxic and harmful gases, preventing soil erosion, and reducing noise, and have been utilized by humans for over a thousand years. With the development of China’s economy and the continuous improvement of living standards, the area of lawns in the country has steadily expanded. Lawns in China are broadly categorized into two main types: sports turf and landscape‑greening turf. At present, the level of lawn maintenance and management in China remains relatively low, leading to severe outbreaks of diseases, pests, and weeds that result in substantial economic losses. This paper systematically reviews and summarizes registration information on lawn‑use pesticides approved and currently valid as of April 10, 2024, providing a detailed account of the number of products, active ingredients, target pests and diseases, formulation types, and manufacturing enterprises for fungicides, insecticides, herbicides, and plant growth regulators. It also analyzes existing issues, with the aim of supporting the development of China’s lawn‑use pesticide industry and facilitating related registration efforts.

1. Major Types of Lawn Pests, Diseases, and Weeds in China

Common types of turfgrass are categorized into landscape‑type turf and sports turf. Sports turf is managed more intensively and typically comprises a single species, making it more susceptible to diseases, pests, and weed infestations. The major turfgrass diseases are classified as fungal or bacterial; fungal diseases include summer patch ( Magnaporthe spp. ), leaf spot disease ( Clarireedia spp. ), Brown spot disease ( Rhizoctonia sp. ), anthracnose ( Colletotrichum spp. ), spring dead spot disease ( Ophiosphaerella spp. )、Pythium blight ( Pythium spp. )、 Ring spot disease, powdery mildew ( Blumeria graminis ), rust disease ( Puccinia spp. ), total blight ( Gaeumannomyces graminis )、Fusarium wilt ( Fusarium spp. ), red thread disease ( Laetisaria fuciformis ) and others; bacterial diseases are primarily represented by bacterial wilt. Based on the plant parts they damage, pests are classified as underground or aboveground. Underground pests mainly include grubs, mole crickets, and wireworms, which feed primarily on turfgrass roots. Aboveground pests are further divided according to their feeding habits into sap-sucking insects and leaf-eating insects. Sap-sucking pests include aphids, thrips, leafhoppers, and planthoppers; these insects typically pierce and suck plant sap while also transmitting viruses. Leaf-eating pests comprise the sod webworm, beet armyworm, armyworm, beet armyworm, fall armyworm, and various grasshoppers; they feed on turfgrass leaves, preventing photosynthesis and ultimately leading to plant death. In addition, underground pests also encompass ants, termites, red imported fire ants, and earthworms. Although these organisms do not directly consume turfgrass, their activities can disrupt the soil environment necessary for healthy turf growth, thereby hindering normal development. Turfgrass is often invaded by a diverse array of weeds, which compete with turfgrass for nutrients, water, and growing space. Moreover, weed root systems release allelopathic compounds that inhibit turfgrass growth and enable rapid weed colonization. Weeds are categorized by morphology into grassy weeds, broadleaf weeds, and sedge weeds. Common grassy weeds include crabgrass ( Digitaria sanguinalis ), crabgrass ( Eleusine indica ), crabgrass ( Setaria viridis )、barnyardgrass ( Echinochloa crusgalli ), Bermuda grass ( Brachiaria eruciformis ), barnyardgrass ( Eragrostis pilosa ), white cogongrass ( Imperata cylindrica )、Kentucky bluegrass ( Poa annua ), Semen Pharbitidis ( Leptochloa chinensis ) etc.; broadleaf weeds include pennywort ( Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides ), Inula flower ( Inula japonica ), dandelion( Taraxacum mongolicum ), ground ivy ( Euphorbia humifusa ), dayflower ( Commelina communis ), Water bamboo leaf ( Murdannia triquetra ), wood sorrel ( Oxalis corniculata ), Three-Point Gold ( Desmodium triflorum ) etc.; the main weeds of the Cyperaceae family include Cyperus rotundus ( Cyperus rotundus ), water pennywort ( Kyllinga brevifolia ), Cyperus difformis ( Cyperus difformis ), Cyperus esculentus ( Cyperus escculentus ) etc.

2 Current Status of Pesticide Registration for Turfgrass in China

2.1 Registration Overview

As of April 10, 2024, the registered pesticide types for turfgrass fall into five major categories: insecticides, fungicides, nematicides, herbicides, and plant growth regulators. A total of 140 valid registration certificates are currently in effect for turfgrass-use pesticides. By number of registrations, fungicides account for the largest share, with 81 valid certificates, representing 57.86% of all turfgrass‑related registrations; herbicides comprise 33 certificates, or 23.57%; insecticides total 20 certificates, or 14.28%; nematicides have 1 certificate, or 0.71%; and plant growth regulators hold 5 certificates, or 3.57%.

From the perspective of the number of registered active ingredients, a total of 60 active ingredients are registered for turfgrass use: 28 fungicides, accounting for 46.67% of the total; 16 insecticides, representing 26.67%; 12 herbicides, making up 20.00%; 1 nematicide, or 1.67%; and 3 plant growth regulators, or 5.00%.

From the perspective of the toxicity of registered products, acute toxicity tests classify pesticides into five categories: highly toxic, highly toxic, moderately toxic, slightly toxic, and practically non‑toxic. Among the products registered for use on turfgrass, the classifications are slightly toxic, practically non‑toxic, and moderately toxic: 123 products are classified as slightly toxic, accounting for 87.85% of all registered formulations; 11 are classified as practically non‑toxic, representing 7.86%; and 6 are classified as moderately toxic, making up 4.29%.

Based on an analysis of the formulated types of registered pesticide products, there are 13 distinct formulations registered for turfgrass applications. Among these, suspension concentrates account for 43 products, representing 29.29% of the total number of registrations; water-dispersible granules comprise 35 products, or 25.00%; emulsifiable concentrates number 14, corresponding to 10.00%; granular formulations total 10, making up 7.14%; soluble concentrates amount to 9, or 6.43%; emulsion‑in‑water, oil‑in‑water, aqueous solutions, and wettable powders each have 5 products, accounting for 3.57% respectively; dispersible oil suspensions number 4, or 2.86%; microemulsions total 3, or 2.14%; and both microcapsule suspensions and soluble powders each have 1 product, contributing 0.71% apiece.

2.2 Analysis of the Current Registration Status  

2.2.1 Biocides  

A total of 81 fungicide products are registered for turfgrass use, comprising 42 single‑ingredient formulations and 39 mixtures. Among the active ingredients, 28 are represented; the top 10 in terms of registration numbers are azoxystrobin, pyraclostrobin, propiconazole, tebuconazole, metalaxyl‑M, prochloraz, difenoconazole, oxymafluorfen, chlorothalonil, and trifloxystrobin (see Table 1). With the exception of chlorothalonil, all of these 10 active ingredients belong to the systemic class. Products containing any of these top 10 active ingredients account for 70 registrations, or 86.42% of all turfgrass fungicides. In contrast, products formulated with mancozeb, iprodione, fluopyram, fluxapyroxad, kasugamycin, thifluzamide, and other less‑common active ingredients number only 11, representing 13.58% of the total.

Table 1: Top 10 Active Ingredients Registered for Turfgrass Fungicides

A total of 38 active‑ingredient combinations are registered for turfgrass fungicides. Among these, the top ten products by number—azoxystrobin, pyraclostrobin, oxymetazolin–tebuconazole, propiconazole–azoxystrobin, propiconazole, benzoic acid–azoxystrobin, metribuzin–azoxystrobin, metribuzin–oxymetazolin, benzoic acid–propiconazole, and chlorothalonil—account for 50 formulations, or 61.73% of all registered fungicide products (see Table 2). The primary target diseases for turfgrass fungicides are brown patch, dollar spot, Pythium blight, and Fusarium wilt; applications are typically recommended at the early stages of disease onset, with foliar sprays and broadcast applications being the predominant methods. The registered formulations encompass 11 types: suspension concentrates, water‑dispersible granules, emulsifiable concentrates, soluble solutions, granules, suspension‑emulsion concentrates, oil‑in‑water emulsions, aqueous solutions, wettable powders, microemulsions, and soluble powders. Suspension concentrates constitute the largest category, with 30 products representing 37.04% of all registered fungicides, followed by water‑dispersible granules, which account for 21 products or 25.93%. In terms of toxicity, 78 products are classified as low‑toxicity or slightly toxic, comprising 96.30% of the total, while three products are moderately toxic, making up 3.70%.

Table 2: Top 10 Registered Fungicides for Turfgrass

2.2.2 Insecticides

A total of 20 insecticide products are registered for turfgrass use, comprising 14 single‑ingredient formulations and 6 mixtures. There are 16 active ingredients; the top six in terms of registration numbers are emamectin benzoate, imidacloprid, chlorantraniliprole, thiamethoxam, chlorpyrifos, and clothianidin (see Table 3). Products containing these six active ingredients account for 13 registrations, or 65.00% of all turfgrass insecticides. In contrast, products containing fewer active ingredients—such as abamectin, metaldehyde, diazinon, trichlorfon, Beauveria bassiana, lambda‑cyhalothrin, Paecilomyces lilacinus, and Bacillus thuringiensis—total seven registrations, representing 35.00% of all turfgrass insecticides.

Table 3: Top 10 Active Ingredients Registered for Turfgrass Pesticides

A total of 17 active‑ingredient combinations are registered for turfgrass use. Among these, imidacloprid and chlorantraniliprole rank first and second in terms of product numbers: imidacloprid is represented by three products, accounting for 15.00% of all insecticide registrations, while chlorantraniliprole has two products, representing 10.00%. The remaining ingredients each have only one registered product (see Table 4). Turfgrass insecticides are primarily registered for control of grubs, mole crickets, beet armyworms, cutworms, snails, and stem borers, with application methods mainly including foliar sprays, broadcast applications, and soil‑drenching treatments. The registered formulations encompass nine types: suspensions, granules, dispersible oil suspensions, suspension‑emulsions, microcapsule suspensions, emulsifiable concentrates, water‑dispersible granules, emulsifiable oils, and soluble concentrates. Suspensions and granules dominate, with six suspension products—30.00% of the total—and six granule products—also 30.00%. Dispersible oil suspensions follow, with two products, accounting for 10.00%. From a toxicity standpoint, 17 products are classified as low‑toxicity or slightly toxic, representing 85.00%, while three products are moderately toxic, making up 15.00%.

Table 4: Top 10 Products Registered for Use on Turfgrass Insecticides

2.2.3 Herbicides

A total of 33 herbicide products are registered for turfgrass use, comprising 30 single‑ingredient formulations and 3 formulated mixtures. Among the active ingredients, 12 are represented; the top 10 in terms of registration numbers are pyriminobac‑methyl, mesotrione, fluroxypyr, quizalofop‑p‑ethyl, trifluralin, aminopyralid, dichlorprop‑P, dicamba, MCPA‑Na, and trifloxysulfuron (see Table 5). Of these, products containing any one of five active ingredients—pyriminobac‑methyl, mesotrione, fluroxypyr, quizalofop‑p‑ethyl, or trifluralin—total 28, accounting for 84.85% of all turfgrass herbicides. By contrast, products containing MCPA‑Na, aminopyralid, dichlorprop‑P, dicamba, or trifloxysulfuron are fewer in number, totaling 5, which represents 15.15% of the overall portfolio.

Table 5: Top 10 Active Ingredients Registered for Turfgrass Herbicides

There are 11 active‑ingredient combinations used in lawn herbicides. The top five products by number of formulations are pyrazosulfuron‑ethyl, mesotrione, isooctyl chlorofluoropyroxypyr, quizalofop‑p‑ethyl, and trifluralin. These five account for 26 formulations, or 78.79% of all registered lawn herbicide products (see Table 6). Lawn herbicides are primarily registered for controlling annual grass weeds, annual broadleaf weeds, and other weed species. The registered formulation types include water‑dispersible granules, suspensions, emulsifiable concentrates, dispersible oil suspensions, solutions, wettable powders, emulsions, and suspension‑emulsions—eight categories in total. Water‑dispersible granules are the most common, with 12 products representing 36.36% of all lawn herbicide registrations; suspensions rank second, with 7 products accounting for 21.21%; and emulsifiable concentrates occupy third place, with 6 products comprising 18.18%. From a toxicity standpoint, all registered lawn herbicides are classified as low‑toxicity or slightly toxic.

Table 6: Top 5 Herbicide Products Registered for Turfgrass Applications

2.2.4 Growth Regulators

A total of five registration certificates have been issued for lawn-use plant growth regulators, all of which are single‑ingredient products. The active ingredients comprise three compounds: uniconazole, paclobutrazol, and chlormequat chloride; among these, paclobutrazol is currently the most widely adopted product on the market. All products are classified as low‑toxicity, and their application method is exclusively foliar spray. Paclobutrazol, uniconazole, and chlormequat chloride are all gibberellin biosynthesis inhibitors that control excessive vegetative growth by reducing gibberellin levels. These three active ingredients are now employed in turfgrass management to suppress vertical growth and thereby reduce the frequency of mowing during the growing season.

2.3 Manufacturing Enterprises

There are a total of 80 manufacturers registered to market lawn‑care pesticides. The top seven companies by number of registrations are Syngenta Crop Protection Co., Ltd. (Switzerland), Sichuan Run’er Technology Co., Ltd., Zhuozhou Bai’aowei Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Xinxiang Lai’en Ping’an Landscape Co., Ltd., Zhengzhou Zhengshi Chemical Products Co., Ltd., Jiangsu Mingde Lida Crop Science Co., Ltd., and Jiangsu Suliy Chemical Co., Ltd. In terms of the types of products registered, Syngenta Crop Protection Co., Ltd. (Switzerland), Zhuozhou Bai’aowei Biotechnology Co., Ltd., and Zhengzhou Zhengshi Chemical Products Co., Ltd. have all registered insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, and plant growth regulators—four major categories—demonstrating a well‑balanced product portfolio.

Table 7: Top 7 Manufacturers of Turf-Use Pesticides

3. Issues in the Registration of Pesticides for Turfgrass in China  

3.1 The number of pesticide registration certificates for turfgrass is limited, and the range of target pests and diseases is narrow.  

According to reports, as of November 2022, China had registered 184 pesticide products for use on cowpeas; by September 2023, the number of registered pesticides for sugarcane had risen to 474. As of April 10, 2024, there were a total of 140 registered pesticide products for turfgrass, a relatively small number compared with other crops. While the registration pool for turfgrass fungicides is comparatively robust, the approved target diseases are limited to five: dollar spot, brown patch, Pythium blight, Fusarium wilt, and leaf spot. Common turfgrass ailments such as spring dead spot, powdery mildew, rust, and summer patch lack corresponding registered products. Herbicide registrations cover broad weed‑control spectra without specific targeting of particular weed species. Insecticide registrations are restricted to seven pests—white grubs, cutworms, root‑knot nematodes, stem borers, snails, beet armyworms, and armyworms—with no products available for piercing‑sucking pests on foliage, such as aphids, leafhoppers, or thrips. Among plant growth regulators, all five registered products serve to inhibit turfgrass growth, with no formulations designed to promote turf development.

3.2 For turfgrass, the proportion of formulated products with high similarity in registered active ingredients is relatively low.

Pesticide registrations for turfgrass exhibit a high degree of similarity in active ingredients: among the 33 registered herbicide products, 11 contain pyrimisulfuron and 6 contain mesotrione, together accounting for more than 50% of the total. Pyrimisulfuron is approved for warm-season turf but not for cool-season turf, while mesotrione is suitable for cool-season turf but poses risks to warm-season grasses, further limiting the available herbicide options. Of the 81 registered fungicide products, 69—over 85%—are based on five active ingredients: azoxystrobin, pyraclostrobin, propiconazole, tebuconazole, and metalaxyl‑M. Among these, azoxystrobin and pyraclostrobin share the same mode of action, as do propiconazole and tebuconazole; repeated use of agents with identical modes of action can readily lead to resistance, reducing their efficacy. Moreover, most registered products are single‑active‑ingredient formulations, accounting for 65.71%, while compound formulations remain relatively rare, with no ternary mixtures currently available. By contrast, abroad, ternary mixtures for turfgrass are more common; such combinations broaden the spectrum of control, reduce the required dosage of individual active ingredients, and help delay the development of resistance.

4 Summary

Pesticide use on lawns falls within the non‑agricultural pesticide sector, and in recent years an increasing number of companies have begun to establish a presence in this field. The number of registered lawn‑care pesticides in China has been steadily rising. Prior to 2008, no lawn‑specific pesticides were registered; after 2008, as the pesticide registration system became more standardized, some manufacturers started developing products tailored for turf and gradually filed them with the Ministry of Agriculture. The formulations currently approved for lawn pesticides are notably innovative and environmentally friendly. New eco‑friendly formats—such as suspension concentrates, water‑dispersible granules, soluble concentrates, granules, oil‑based suspension concentrates, suspoemulsions, microcapsule suspensions, and microemulsions—account for over 85% of registered products, while traditional emulsifiable concentrates and wettable powders comprise only about 13.5%. Suspension concentrates and water‑dispersible granules are the two dominant formulations for lawn applications. Suspension concentrates are further divided into water‑based and oil‑based types: water‑based suspensions use water as the solvent, whereas oil‑based suspensions employ oils such as corn oil, rapeseed oil, or synthetic oils. These formulations reduce reliance on organic solvents, enhance active‑ingredient utilization, exhibit low volatility, facilitate transportation, and are environmentally benign. Water‑dispersible granules, also known as dry suspensions, can achieve active‑ingredient contents exceeding 70%, thereby lowering application rates per unit area; moreover, they contain no organic solvents, making them another environmentally friendly option. As China’s pesticide formulation technologies continue to advance, the share of these new, eco‑friendly formulations is expected to grow further. Although the current range of registered lawn‑care formulations is relatively environmentally sound, their active‑ingredient profiles tend to be quite similar, with few multi‑component mixtures available, resulting in a narrow spectrum of target pests and diseases. This limitation may be closely tied to the development trajectory of China’s turf industry: despite expanding lawn‑area coverage, investment in maintenance remains insufficient, with an emphasis on planting at the expense of ongoing care—a pattern that reflects inadequate “three parts planting, seven parts nurturing.” At the same time, the added value generated by China’s turf sector remains modest, and market capacity is limited, discouraging large agrochemical firms from committing resources to pesticide registration. With continued economic growth, China’s turf‑care market is poised to expand significantly. As this trend unfolds, we can anticipate greater participation from more companies in the registration process, thereby fostering the further development of China’s lawn‑care pesticide industry.

Source: China National Knowledge Infrastructure