Nuturf Pty Ltd. Nuturf Pty Ltd. Summary:

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1 Nuturf Pty Ltd Summary: A fertiliser trial was established on a Agrostis stolonifera Penncross Bentgrass green at Terrey Hills Golf Course in the Northern Beaches suburbs of Sydney to investigate the potential of NutriSmart Eco-Fertiliser to increase turf quality. The trial design was a completely randomised block design. The treatments applied were as follows: 1.NutriSmart 224.6kg/ha 2.NutriSmart 392.5kg/ha 3.NutriSmart plus Novex at 0.675kg/100sq.m (0.125kg 392.5kg/ha 4.NutriSmart plus Novex at 1.35kg/100sq.m (0.25kg 392.5kg/ha 5.Novex 1.35kg/100sq.m 6.Standard Organic 400kg/ha 7.UTC The treatments were applied by using a calibrated spreader. The trial was assessed by core sampling at monthly intervals assessing shoot density, root weights, thatch accumulation and assessing turf colour ratings and disease symptoms. The results of the trial have established that NutriSmart Eco-Fertiliser has demonstrated that it can increase turf quality by reducing Dollar Spot disease activity, increasing shoot density and increasing root weights when applied to Agrostis stolonifera turfgrass. NutriSmart Eco-Fertiliser treatments did not provide statistically greater results than the untreated control in turf colour assessments or thatch depths. 1

2 Table Of Contents 1. Trial Aim 3 2. Methods and Materials Site Details Application Details Fertilisers Used Treatments Assessment Methods 6 3. Results Efficacy 7 4. Discussion Efficacy 12 Disease Pressure 12 Shoot Density 12 Dry Root Weights 12 Thatch Depth Conclusions 13 2

3 1. Trial Aim To monitor the response on shoot and root density, colour and nutrient uptake of turf after application of NutriSmart Eco-Fertiliser. 2.1 Site Details Site Co-operator: Peter Watts, Phone: Address: Terrey Hills Golf Club 2. Methods and Materials Soil Type: Sand ph: 6.6 Moisture: Adequate Drainage: Adequate Fertility: Adequate Organic Matter: 1% Trial Design: Randomised Complete Block Design Plot Size: 1.5m (L) x 1m (W) Replications: 4 Turf Type Genus: Species Variety Planting Date: Agrostis stolonifera Penncross Established Site History Chemicals Used *: Nil Fertiliser Used: * Nil *21 Days prior and post trial application 3

4 2.2 Application Details Application 1 Started Date 28 th October 2004 Time 8.00am Finished Date 28 th October 2004 Time 8.45am Equipment The treatments were applied via granule shakers. Application 2 Started Date 30 th November 2004 Time 7:45am Finished Date 30 th November 2004 Time 8:30am Equipment The treatments were applied via granule shakers. Application 3 Started Date 30 th December 2004 Time 9:45am Finished Date 30 th December 2004 Time 10:30am Equipment The treatments were applied via granule shakers. 4

5 2.3 Fertilisers Used Product Active Ingredient and Concentration Formulation Manufacturer NutriSmart Eco-Fertiliser Weathered Coal (69-70%), Phosphate 19-20%, Starch and Molasses (5-8%), Granule NutriSmart Standard Organic Amendment 2.4 Treatments Yeast Powder (2-4%) Chicken Manure Based organic fertiliser with Dolomite and Wetting agent added. Crumble Treatment Active Ingredient Rate of Product 1 NutriSmart Eco-Fertiliser 224.6kg/ha 2 NutriSmart Eco-Fertiliser 392.5kg/ha 3 NutriSmart plus Novex at 392.5kg/ha 0.675kg/100sq.m (0.125kg N). 4 NutriSmart plus Novex at 392.5kg/ha 1.35kg/100sq.m (0.25kg N). 5 Novex kg/100sq.m 6 Standard Organic Amendment 400kg/ha 7 Untreated Control. NA Footnotes: Lesco Novex is a standard greens controlled release (amino urea formaldehyde) fertiliser used in Australia. Txxxxxxxx 5

6 2.5 Assessment Methods Assessment Methods Assessment Method Timing 1. Shoot density Turf density assessments were undertaken through analysing shoot and tiller numbers per unit area. This was carried out by taking 3 random core samples from each plot including untreated controls with the use of a 2 inch plugger. As each core was released from its sampler it was be placed in a plastic bag together with any loose plant material adhering to the inside of the sampler. The cores were then stored at 6 C until possessing. The average shoot number count can then be converted to shoots per 1m² by multiplying by Root weight Root dry weights were obtained by taking 3 plugs 10cm in diameter per plot. Soil and roots were separated by washing over screens. Roots were then oven dried at a temperature of 75 C for a period of hours. The samples were then further separated from the soil with a muffle furnace. Averages were recorded of the three samples taken. Root depth measurements can also be undertaken. 3. Turf Colour Ratings Adopt a rating scale of 1-9, whereby 9 = dark green, 1 = straw coloured turf. Will use a paint colour chart to help in standardisation of results. 4. Thatch accumulation. Thatch was measured by taking a plug from plot, and measured with the use of a ruler. 3 plugs were taken per plot with measurements averaged. 5. Disease Symptoms Percent infestation was via the quadrat method. Quadrat was a 1m X 1m frame with crosshatched strings at 10cm intervals that divide the frame into 100 squares. Readings were based on the Dollar Spot presence in each of these squares. Every 4 weeks for 3 months. Every 4 weeks for 3 months. Every 4 weeks. Every 4 weeks for 3 months. Every 4 weeks for 3 months. 6

7 3. Results 3.1 Efficacy Table 1 Disease Pressure TREATMENT 30/10/ /11/ /12/ /01/2005 NOVEX AT 135KG/HA b 224.6KG/HA a 392.5KG/HA a 392.5KG/HA + NOVEX AT 67.5KG/HA a 392.5KG/HA + NOVEX AT 135KG/HA a STANDARD ORGANIC AMENDMENT AT 400KG/HA b UTC b LSD (p<0.05) ns ns ns 1.82 Affects of Nutrismart Eco-Fertiliser on disease suppression of Sclerotinia homeocarpa Infection patches per plot NOVEX AT 135KG/HA 224.6KG/HA 392.5KG/HA 392.5KG/HA + NOVEX AT 135KG/HA 392.5KG/HA + NOVEX AT 67.5KG/HA STANDARD ORGANIC AMENDMENT AT 400KG/HA UTC 30/10/ /11/ /12/ /01/2005 7

8 Table 2 Shoot Density TREATMENT RC30/11/04 RC30/12/04 RC30/1/05 NOVEX AT 135KG/HA ab KG/HA a KG/HA c KG/HA + NOVEX AT 67.5KG/HA bc KG/HA + NOVEX AT 135KG/HA a STANDARD ORGANIC AMENDMENT AT 400KG/HA ab UTC ab LSD (p<0.05) ns Ns Effect of Nutrismart Eco-Fertiliser on shoot density of Agrostis stolonifera NOVEX AT 135KG/HA 224.6KG/HA 392.5KG/HA 392.5KG/HA + NOVEX 392.5KG/HA + NOVEX AT 135KG/HA AT 67.5KG/HA STANDARD ORGANIC AMENDMENT AT 400KG/HA UTC RC30/11/04 RC30/12/04 RC30/1/05 8

9 Table 3 Root Weights TREATMENT RC30/11/2004 RC30/12/2004 RC30/01/2005 NOVEX AT 135KG/HA b KG/HA ab KG/HA ab KG/HA + NOVEX AT 67.5KG/HA b KG/HA + NOVEX AT 135KG/HA b STANDARD ORGANIC AMENDMENT AT 400KG/HA b 9.91 UTC a LSD (p<0.05) ns ns Effect of NutriSmart Eco-Fertiliser on Dry Root Weights of Agrostis stolonifera grams RC30/11/2004 RC30/12/2004 RC30/01/2005 NOVEX AT 135KG/HA 224.6KG/HA 392.5KG/HA 392.5KG/HA + NOVEX AT 67.5KG/HA 392.5KG/HA + NOVEX AT 135KG/HA STANDARD ORGANIC AMENDMENT AT 400KG/HA UTC 9

10 Table 4 Thatch Depth TREATMENT 30/10/ /11/ /12/ /01/2005 NOVEX AT 135KG/HA KG/HA KG/HA KG/HA + NOVEX AT 67.5KG/HA KG/HA + NOVEX AT 135KG/HA STANDARD ORGANIC AMENDMENT AT 400KG/HA UTC LSD (p<0.05) ns ns ns ns Influence of NutriSmart Eco-Fertiliser on Thatch development Thatch Depth (cm) NOVEX AT 135KG/HA 224.6KG/HA 392.5KG/HA 392.5KG/HA + NOVEX AT 135KG/HA STANDARD ORGANIC 392.5KG/HA + NOVEX AMENDMENT AT AT 67.5KG/HA 400KG/HA UTC 30/10/ /11/ /12/ /01/

11 Table 5 Colour Ratings TREATMENT 30/10/ /11/ /12/ /01/2005 NOVEX AT 135KG/HA b KG/HA a KG/HA a KG/HA + NOVEX AT 67.5KG/HA b KG/HA + NOVEX AT 135KG/HA b STANDARD ORGANIC AMENDMENT AT 400KG/HA a UTC a LSD (p<0.05) ns 1.67 ns ns Effect of NutriSmart Eco-Fertiliser on Turfgrass Colour Response after 3 applications Colour rating 0-10, where 0 is dead turf, 10 is drak green NOVEX AT 135KG/HA 224.6KG/HA 392.5KG/HA 392.5KG/HA + NOVEX 392.5KG/HA + NOVEX AT 135KG/HA AT 67.5KG/HA STANDARD ORGANIC AMENDMENT AT 400KG/HA UTC 30/10/ /11/ /12/ /01/

12 4. Discussion 4.1 Efficacy Disease Pressure Dollar Spot (Sclerotinia homeocarpa) was present on the site throughout the trial period. Results from the research has shown that at the last assessment date, all treatments possessing NutriSmart Eco-Fertiliser applications provided significantly greater disease reductions than the other treatments within the trial and the untreated control. Shoot Density Shoot Density varied substantially throughout the 4 month trial period. All treatments increased plant density within the trial, with some treatments providing as high as a 298% increase in shoot density and other treatments producing as low as a 14% increase. Significant different results could only be determined on one occasion in the trial. At the 2 month after treatment assessment date, NutriSmart at the rate of 392.5kh/ha provided significantly greater shoot density than any other treatment in the trial, increasing plant densities by 96%. Although statistical analysis could not differentiate between treatments in the 1 and 2 MAT assessments, it was apparent that shoot density in the NutriSmart treated only, and NutriSmart plus fertiliser treatments consistently gained greater turfgrass shoot density. Dry Root Weights Dry root weights did not greatly increase over the trial period as a result of any treatment applied. Given the time of the year the trial was conducted, root weights are likely not to increase substantially, due to supra-optimal temperatures experienced in summer. With the exception of the untreated control, all treatments provided an increase in root mass, providing between 2-16% increases. Significant different results could only be determined once in the assessments. This was at the 2MAT, where Novex at 135kg/ha, NutriSmart Eco-Fertiliser at 392.5kg/ha plus Novex at 67.5kg/ha, NutriSmart Eco-Fertiliser at 392.5kg/ha plus Novex at 135kg/ha and STANDARD ORGANIC AMENDMENT at 400kg/ha treatments all provided statistically greater root mass when compared with the untreated control. NutriSmart at 224.6kg/ha and NutriSmart 392.5kg/ha did not significantly increase root mass when compared to the UTC, suggesting that nutrient input had more impact on root weights than the NutriSmart Eco- Fertiliser. 12

13 Thatch Depth No statistical difference was observed with any treatment including the UTC over the period of the trial. This suggests that in order for major differences in thatch levels to be observed, a longer assessment period maybe required. Colour Ratings Although the variation in colour ratings was significant early in the trial, colour responses from treatments declined as the trial progressed. This was likely to be a result of the stress endured after extreme temperature conditions occurred late in the trial, contributing to poorer turf colour at the last assessment dates. At the 1 month after treatment assessment date, it was apparent that turfgrass colour increases occurred largely as a result of fertiliser application. The only treatments to provide significantly greater colour responses than the untreated control were Novex at 135kg/ha, NutriSmart Fert 392.5kg/ha plus Novex at 67.5kg/ha and NutriSmart Fert 392.5kg/ha plus Novex at 135kg/ha. 5. Conclusions In reviewing the results of this trial it has been established that NutriSmart Eco-Fertiliser has proven that it has the ability to reduce Dollar Spot disease activity, increase shoot density and increase root weights when applied to Agrostis stolonifera turfgrass. 13

14 1 MAT Plots fertilised with Novex Plots fertilised with NutriSmart Eco-Fertiliser plus Novex NutriSmart Eco fert at 392.5kg/ha NutriSmart Eco-Fertiliser at 392.5kg/ha plus Novex at 135kg/ha 14

15 2 MAT NutriSmart Fert 392.5kg/ha NutriSmart 392.5kg/ha plus Novex at 135kg/ha Novex at 135kg/ha NutriSmart Fert 392.5kg/ha NutriSmart 392.5kg/ha plus Novex at 135kg/ha Novex at 135kg/ha 15

16 3 MAT Lack of colour response observed as at 3MAT 16

EVALUATION OF THE PERFORMANCE OF HUMIC ACID PRODUCTS IN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT. K. Carey and E. Gunn

EVALUATION OF THE PERFORMANCE OF HUMIC ACID PRODUCTS IN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT K. Carey and E. Gunn Guelph Turfgrass Institute and Dept. of Plant Agriculture, Horticulture Division Sponsor:Luscar Ltd. OBJECTIVE