Greentech NutriGrow Humic Acid & Carbon Based
Organic Compound Liquid Fertilizer
Application Results on Golf Course and Turf Management

A、PREFACE

1. The requirement of nutrition for turf vegetation is different in each season of the year. At the beginning of spring, turf needs to turn green fast.  After a few months of low temperature, grass on turf experiences slow growth, demand of nitrogen will be higher. Hence, high nitrogen formulation fertilizer will be needed during the two seasons of winter and spring.
   
   
2. Due to low temperature in winter, turf tends to losing green and color fading. On the botanic physiology principle, this is a type of normal adaptation or plant self-protection. However, from sports arena point of view, turf withers and turns yellowish will affect athlete’s mentality and enthusiasm on sports.
   Based on climate analysis of China southern region, there are 40-45 days of low temperature days in winter. In order to maintain turf growth on an acceptable level with attractive scenery, scientific management is necessary and application of fertilizer will play an important role. The critical period for fertilizer application is during mid-November. Meanwhile, soil needs to have aeration to enhance soil fertility, so that plant root system could develop normally and plant resistance to adverse conditions could be improved. With strong root system and more hair roots, plant photosynthesis and absorption of CO2 in the air will be enhanced. Low temperature will cause turf grass fading and changes to yellowish. This is a kind of shallow or superficial dormancy. However, if timing, the ratio and quantity of NPK are right, the application of fertilizer will break down the dormancy to upkeep turf quality during the low temperature in winter.
   
   
3. Points for attention on turf maintenance during winter:
   ●  Fully utilize weather forecast, seize the timing of right temperature.
      Apply fertilizer two days before temperature rises, no application of fertilizer during low
      temperature;
   ●  Apply fertilizer when soil is comparatively dry. Apply more frequently,  but small quantity each time;
   ●  During winter, adopt NutriGrow high nitrogen formulation fertilizer consisting also phosphorus and
      potassium, dilute 200 times and sprinkle on turf. Roots will grow deeper and leaves grow
      luxuriantly, minimizing plant disease due to excessive water, and natural green of the lawn can be
      maintained;
   ●  Pay attention to plant disease, insect pest and the application of insecticide and pesticide.   
   
   Though breeding of plant disease is being suppressed during low temperature in winter, however, there are many inducing factors, such as rapid temperature change,  too much sprinkling of water and deterioration of lawn grass resistance, seriously plant disease may emerge as a result. Environmental protection and ecological balance are factors to be considered during application of pesticide. Building up environmental protection concept, adopting scientific management and employing accurate application are essential measures to protect microorganism in soil and small animals in the surrounding areas. Beautiful golf course landscape will be further enhanced with all these small  animals around.
   
   
4. During Summer and Autumn, grass is at strengthening stage and grows fast, if nitrogen content is too high, lawn spindling appears, a disadvantage for trimming operation. If plant stem and root are being strengthened during autumn, low temperature resistance and prevent of frostbite will prevail during winter. Having strong stem and root, emerging of plant disease and insect pest will definitely be minimized. It is therefore appropriate to apply NutriGrow high potassium formulation liquid fertilizer consisting of nitrogen and phosphorus.

B、PFERTILIZER APPLICATION METHOD     

1. To be safe and not to hurt grass, high concentration of fertilizer should not be employed, suitably apply more times but with small quantity each time to ensure absorption, minimizes vaporization of fertilizer and enhance fertilizer efficiency.
   
   
2. Application of fertilizer should not be done during rainy days or of high humidity. Normally fertilizer application should be carried out when the soil is comparatively dry. This will enhance turf vegetation absorption and had better results.
   
   
3. During application of fertilizer, even and fine spray is required, so that lawn color maintains consistent even at later stage. It is especially important in operation that operator and water pipe should move backwards, to prevent hurting grass and it is forbidden to walk or drag water pipe on plot already applied with fertilizer.

C、PFERTILIZER APPLICATION EFFECT

There is a difference between application of NutriGrow humic acid & Carbon based liquid fertilizer and regular organic fertilizer. It is because absorption conduction of fertilizer in plant for the former one is from leaf and stem to root, thereby plant stem and root grow thick and strong distinctly in 2 to 3 weeks. Hence, cold resistance and prevention of plant disease and insect infestation are being strengthened on lawn. Other benefits are: saving of manpower, time and expenses, also convenient in operation, no hurting of grass and no wastage.

One set of agrisprayer, deployed with two personnel, is sufficient for the operation, not necessarily to have water sprinkling as a follow-up measure.

Ordinary compound fertilizer needs large amount of sprinkling water to dissolve, easily to be washed away. Application of NutriGrow humic acid based liquid fertilizer even could draw forth the function of soil regulation.  Though over application of ordinary fertilizer turns grass leaves green, it is not strong enough to prevent insect infestation. Humic acid based liquid fertilizer contains several types of microelements needed by lawn. After application, fertilizer penetrates deep into soil and grass root stretches naturally downwards. As comparatively the root system is thriving and well-developed, capable of endurance of any trample under foot on lawn and prevention of plant disease and insect pest become possible.

D、PTURF MANAGEMENT

1. MOISTURE CONTENT IN SOIL
   
   Moisture is the main composition of turf vegetation, and an important living nutrition to enhance plant growth and to maintain its normal life function.
   
   Plant cell bioplasm consists of more than 80% of water.  Shortage of water means vegetable activity process will be limited or even stopped. Though water is important and in winter will reduce or relieve low temperature ill-effect,  However, as vegetation growth is in the slow progress stage during winter, water is not much needed.  Too much water may affect or change the golf green environment as a whole, such as breeding of plant disease, soil hardened and rotten grass leaves and root system.  In  Spring and Summer, too much of water may cause rot root, blight and other disease. All in all, neither too much of water, nor shortage of water would be harmful to grass. In general, keeping slight dry on surface of golf green during low temperature in winter is an important measure to maintain a good quality lawn.
   
   Based on the principle of having minimum plant disease, inspect the moisture level of the dry layer of soil and then determine the amount of water to be applied.
   
   
2. GRASS TRIMMING IN WINTER
   
   Under natural status, though may have different growth rates, lawn grass is growing throughout the year and the peak is during April – October. The fastest growth rate, with highest biomass, is within the temperature of 27 – 35oC. 
   
   Though grass grows slowly during winter time, periodical trimming is necessary. Trimming frequency is to be based on 1/3 principle, i.e. trimming is required when plant height is 50% of the height opted for trimming. Parts being trimmed will be 1/3 of the lawn total growth quantity.
   
   During low temperature, trimming is needed once a week or biweekly along fairways, 1 – 2 times weekly on launching pad, and 2 -3 times weekly on green.
   
   Based on lawn growth physiological principle, too frequent trimming will cause reduction of leaf surface area, and equilibrium of respiration and photosynthesis will be seriously disproportioned to create negative growth.  Hence, plant preserved nutrition will be used to maintain growth. After some time, dead lawn emerges as stored and synthetic nutrition will hardly be enough to support, appearance of large exposed soil area will be unavoidable.

Zhou  Wu  Bing
 Pine Valley Country Club
March 10, 2009