ISHS Acta Horticulturae 783: II International Conference on Turfgrass Science and Management for Sports Fields
IMPACT OF MICROBIAL INOCULANT APPLICATION ON AGROSTIS STOLONIFERA VAR. 'PENN A4' PERFORMANCE UNDER REDUCED FERTILISATION |
| Authors: | T. Butler, A. Hunter |
| Keywords: | microbes, turfgrass, nutrients, grass growth |
| Abstract:
Microbial inoculants have been used as turf management aids with more frequency in recent years. Several product manufacturers assert that the application of these products to turfgrass boosts nutrient uptake, enhances rootzone bacterial and fungal populations and activity, and improves turf stress tolerance. However, little scientific information is available concerning the reliability of these assertions, especially the actual benefits of commercially available microbial inoculants, which frequently contain mixtures of bacteria and fungi. An experiment was established to test the veracity of some of the putative claims. The microbial inoculant tested did not affect turfgrass or rootzone nutrition. However, the application of the microbial inoculant increased rootzone microbial activity and turfgrass stress tolerance, indicating that microbial inoculants may help turfgrass managers to maintain healthier turfgrass swards under intensive and unforgiving management regimes even during the establishment years. | |
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