| Will Neily, a researcher with Acadian Agritech, has been studying the effects of Acadian Seaweed Extract on bentgrass establishment and root development. According to Neily, a pair of experiments were conducted under greenhouse conditions at the Dr. James S. Craigie Research Center in Cornwallis, Nova Scotia. “We examined the effects of the addition of Acadian seaweed extract on root establishment of bentgrass (cv. Penncross) in pot culture,” he said. “We also examined the effects of seaweed extract on the early establishment of bentgrass in larger greenhouse flats.” Both experiments were conducted as short-term studies designed to demonstrate the effects of seaweed extract on turf establishment. Study 1: In the first study, Bentgrass sod was cut to fit 4.5” pots. The pots were filled with an 80:20 blend of sand and peat and then the sod placed on top. Two treatments were applied: • Liquid fertilizer control; and • Liquid fertilizer control plus Acadian seaweed extract Both treatments were applied weekly. Two weeks after transplanting, the sod was removed from the pots and the excess media was shaken from the root systems to expose the new root growth. Study 2: In the second study, bentgrass was direct seeded into flats containing an 80:20 sand:peat media mix. The same two treatments were applied as in Study 1. The flats were evaluated for overall early establishment two weeks after germination. In just a couple weeks, the differences were evident.  In Study 1, Neily saw significant improvement in the root development of bentgrass treated with seaweed extract compared to the control treated plants. After two weeks in the greenhouse, the root system of the seaweed extract treated bentgrass grew significantly larger and was more advanced than the untreated control plants (Fig. 1).In Study 2, bentgrass became established much more quickly and evenly in the seaweed extract treatment compared to the fertilizer control treatments (Fig. 2).  Seaweed can help a golf course through a solid root base and improved water efficiency.“A strong root system is important for water and nutrient uptake and for the overall health of the turf,” Neily said. “Seaweed extract will help roots extend deep down into the soil, helping turf make better use of available nutrients. A stronger root system is especially important during time of drought. It has been shown to improve water use efficiency, and part of this is due to the improved rooting that it helps promote in turf.” Seaweed extract can also help cut back on usage of other products on the course. “Seaweed extract will help reduce the usage of other golf course inputs such as fertilizer and water,” Neily said. “It’s better for the environment because golf courses are often on sensitive ecosystems and less fertility is a good thing in those situations. “Seaweed extract has also been shown to improve turf’s ability to resist stress by helping to promote a healthier plant that is less susceptible to both biotic and abiotic stresses,” he added. “Healthier turf will require less chemical inputs such as insecticides and fungicides.” What should a superintendent know when using a seaweed program? “Seaweed extract is particularly effective when used as part of a regular foliar spray program,” Neily pointed out. “Additional applications may be required to overcome stress related problems such as drought, disease pressure or heavy use.” |
Seaweed can build bentgrass
Bentgrass root development grew in faster and stronger with seaweed extract, says Will Neily, Acadian Agritech researcher.