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nlunan@msn.com 203-537-0420 |
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Some people are a tough sell. They don't readily accept new products into their programs. For every active ingredient that touches their fields, they want to see extensive studies and proven results. If they don't have any biostimulant/soil amendment products in their programs, they might be suprised to find that these products-including kelp extracts, beneficial soil bacteria and humus as well as composted animal and plant materials-are among the most studied, data-extensive materials available for turf health management. A biostimulant/soil amendment is a class of soil and plant-growth-enhancing products that can:        Biostimulants, in their raw form, have been used agronomically for hundreds of years. Native American Indians worked fish and composted plant and animal materials into their soils. Broken down into their components, these organic substances contain humus, amino acids, proteins, vitamins, carbohydrates and sugars, all materials that enhance the active biomass in the root zone and improve plant vitality. Because the overuse of chemical pesticides and fertilizers can negatively impact soil productivity, horticulturists now look to organic compounds to bring soils back into balance, improve plant health, and reduce the need for chemical intervention. Active ingredients: The "bio-active ingredients" common to many biostimulants/soil amendments can be placed in the following categories: Humus: Active humus, extracted from decomposed plant and animal organic matter, is composed largely of three organic acids-humic, ulmic and fulvic. These large organic molecules provide an excellent food source for beneficial soil microorganisms, help to improve soil structure, enhance soil water holding capacity and naturally chelate unavailable micronutrients. Kelp Extracts: Extracts of North Atlantic kelp are excellent sources of plant growth hormones, including gibberellins, cytokinins, auxins, manitols, to name a few. These compounds affect turfgrass by promoting cell division and elongation, resulting in improved root depth, mass and density, thus increasing the plant's nutrient and water absorption capabilities. Beneficial Soil Microorganisms: Naturally occurring soil microorganisms are nature's fertilizer producers. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria make atmospheric nitrogen available to the plant. Certain soil and rhizosphere bacteria produce enzymes that solubilize phosphorus and potassium from insoluble mineral sources. Other species produce a variety of chemicals, such as the plant growth hormones mentioned above that stimulate root and shoot growth. The numbers of bacteria species and their various roles are vast, but they provide multiple benefits to plant growth, overall soil productivity and disease suppression. Intermediate Metabolites: This category includes carbohydrates, peptides, simple and complex sugars, amino acids, lignin, organic mineral chelates and cellulose fiber. Derived from naturally fermented plant and animal solubles, these ingredients can provide an immediate source of energy for plants and soil microbes, help break up soil compaction and improve the soil's cation exchange capacity. |
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