iaTURF

Nick Christians

February 27, 2014

Here is our paper from the international Journal that was published in conjunction with the International Turfgrass Society meeting that took place in Beijing, China last summer.  The abstract is as follows:

 INFLUENCE OF AN AMINO ACID COMPLEX ON THE GROWTH OF
AGROSTIS STOLONIFERA L. CV. PENNCROSS
Quincy D. Law*, Marcus A. Jones, Aaron J. Patton and Nick E. Christians

ABSTRACT

Biostimulants are products able to stimulate plant growth and metabolism with a response not attributed to mineral nutrition. Biostimulant products have been shown to increase turfgrass tolerance to heat and drought, as well as increase tillering in wheat. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of an amino acid complex on the culture and shoot density of creeping bentgrass in comparison to nitrogen, a commercial sea plant extract, and another amino acid containing biostimulant. Research was conducted at the Iowa State University Horticulture Research Station on ‘Penncross’ creeping bentgrass mown at 1.3 cm and established on a United States Golf Association sand-based rootzone. Clipping yield did not vary among treatments in this experiment. The 2.9 kg N ha-1 rate of the amino acid complex
was found to be the most effective treatment to maintain or increase shoot density in the trial. The amino acid complex at 2.9 kg N ha-1 had 15% greater shoot densities than the same rate of N from urea and the 17% greater shoot densities than the commercial sea plant extract over the two dates out of nine that they differed, both occurring during stressful summer conditions. This research demonstrates that applications of an amino acid complex have the potential to increase shoot densities in a mature stand of ‘Penncross’ creeping bentgrass without stimulating shoot growth.

The citation for the article is:

 Law, Q.D., M.A. Jones, A. J. Patton, and N. E. Christians. 2013. Influence of an amino acid complex on the growth of Agrostis stolonifera L. cv. Penncross. International Turfgrass Journal.  12:485-489.

The full text can be obtained in pdf form by clicking on the word Quincy.