Compass Minerals uses solar evaporation to sustainably harvest minerals from the Great Salt Lake in Ogden, Utah, for its Protassium+ fertilizer.
The key ingredient in high-analysis Protassium+ —- potassium at a 50 percent rate — increases nitrate utilization and the formation of starches and sugars, says Mark J. Davis, senior agronomist at Compass Minerals Plant Nutrition. It also helps with disease resistance, cold and heat tolerance, drought resistance and overall turf stress.
 |
The three core principles of potassium are enzyme activity, water movement and nutrient movement, Davis says. Potassium is a part of more than 60 enzyme reactions within turf, he says. It also critical for osmotic pressure and osmotic regulation within the plant, which is ultimately how the plant takes up water and nutrients.
Protassium+ is unique because it contains 17 percent sulfate, Davis says. “Sulfur plays a part in protein synthesis, chlorophyll production, root development—it’s going to stimulate growth and it can also increase soil microorganism activity within our soil,” Davis says.
Sulfur also helps utilize nitrogen in the turf, as well as give the turf color and aid in its health, Davis says. Because no extra nitrogen is being added, though, the grass is not growing significantly more and requiring more mows.
Other companies produce potassium chloride products, also known as Muriate of Potash or MOP, that contain high levels of chloride, he says. With nearly double the salt index of potassium sulfate, the overapplication of these products could damage turf. Protassium+, by comparison, contains less than one percent of chloride, which makes it much safer.
Deficiencies in potassium are possible, Davis says. “Potassium is going to be one that visually you’re not going to have quite the cues, and if you do get a visual deficiency, you have a very deficient turf and you are really going to be challenged to catch up with that, so to speak,” Davis says. “So it’s a nutrient we want to stay on top of and ahead of with.”
Compass Minerals sells Protassium+ turf grades that are specific to different areas on golf courses, Davis says. The Turf Granular is about 220 SGN and designed for roughs and fairways, the Mini Gran is about 140 SGN and designed for fairways and tees and the Greens Grade is about 90 SGN and designed for greens. Each of the products also has a high uniformity index, he says. “We’ve got those sizes that are ideal for blending with other products that are sized similarly for those very specific applications, which makes it unique that a superintendent is able to take in a product that is designed for a tee, or a product that is going to optimize for greens or rough or fairways,” he says.
To further accommodate specific course needs, Compass Minerals sells Protassium+ products with organic certifications — because of its nontraditional harvesting method and commitment to safety.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Patrick Williams is a GCI contributing editor.