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Copy link Biostimulant benefits young turf
Lagan Valley Scientific
Key Conclusions
An independent trial conducted by Lagan Valley Scientific clearly showed that a single application of Vitalnova Blade significantly increased a number of important quality traits (rooting, chlorophyll, leaf width) for young turf grass.
These results demonstrate that the product is a perfect recommendation for establishing turf from seed or sod, or following a renovation period.
Objective
To review the influence of our biostimulant Vitalnova Blade on young turf
Trial Details
Trial station
Lagan Valley Scientific
Product
Blade
Assessments
Clipping weight, chlorophyll content (SPAD 502 plus meter), root length and root mass, shoot width (Trial 2 only)
Treatments
An independent glasshouse trial was conducted in two parts by Lagan Valley Scientific (Dr Deborah Cox).
The effect of a Vitalnova Blade application on turf quality traits of young Poa annua (Trial 1) and of young Lolium perenne (Trial 2) was examined as part of a larger trial examining effects on the soil microbiome.
Fresh soil cores from a sports surface were mixed with sand to produce a 90:10 sand soil rootzone which was turfed with Poa annua (Trial 1) and seeded with Lolium perenne (Trial 2). Pots were given time to establish and then Vitalnova Blade was applied once at 20L/ha in 500L water, controls received a water application. Vitalnova Blade is a carbohydrate-based sports turf biostimulant designed to increase turf rooting and stimulate the soil microbiome.
All pots were maintained for three weeks and assessments made in week 4 (day 24 in Trial 1; day 30 in Trial 2).
Treatments
An independent glasshouse trial was conducted in two parts by Lagan Valley Scientific (Dr Deborah Cox).
The effect of a Vitalnova Blade application on turf quality traits of young Poa annua (Trial 1) and of young Lolium perenne (Trial 2) was examined as part of a larger trial examining effects on the soil microbiome.
Fresh soil cores from a sports surface were mixed with sand to produce a 90:10 sand soil rootzone which was turfed with Poa annua (Trial 1) and seeded with Lolium perenne (Trial 2). Pots were given time to establish and then Vitalnova Blade was applied once at 20L/ha in 500L water, controls received a water application. Vitalnova Blade is a carbohydrate-based sports turf biostimulant designed to increase turf rooting and stimulate the soil microbiome.
All pots were maintained for three weeks and assessments made in week 4 (day 24 in Trial 1; day 30 in Trial 2).
Results
Pots treated with a single application of Vitalnova Blade showed more vigorous growth with a clear difference in density, clipping growth and leaf width when compared with the control (Image 1).
Image 1: Trial 2 Lolium perenne control pots vs Vitalnova Blade pots at day 7.
Vitalnova Blade does have an NPK nutrient content ( 5-6.5-3.5), which was not added to the control pots but at 20L/ha this would deliver only very low levels of nutrition over 4 weeks (1.36kg N/ha, 1.77kg P2O5/ha, 0.95kg K2O/ha).
The addition of Vitalnova Blade in both trials significantly (P<0.05) increased a number of measured quality traits for turf (Figure 1a, b, c and Figure 2 a, b, c, d).
Chlorophyll (measured using SPAD) and root mass significantly increased with an application of Vitalnova Blade for both grass species tested. In the Lolium perenne trial there was also a significant increase in clipping yield and leaf width (Figure 2), which is clearly seen in image 1.
Figure 1a, b, c. Quality trait assessments for Poa annua trial. Error bars indicate standard error of the means. Different letters indicate significant difference between values.
Figure 2a, b, c, d. Quality trait assessments for Lolium perenne trial. Error bars indicate standard error of the means. Different letters indicate significant difference between values.
Other trials
ITM can reduce Dollar spot
Lyon Salvagny Golf Club, France, 2020Combined biostimulants
St Andrews, Scotland, 2022Reduced water usage
STRI Brisbane, Australia, 2017
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