Summer Heat Recovery Utilizing Bio-stimulants

Aug 30, 2013

By: Tina Franklin, Dealer Training & Relations Coordinator

Like applying sunscreen to prevent a sunburn or aloe to ease it, applying a bio-stimulant to your turf and plants can be a soothing antidote for both the plant and your bottom line. Bio-stimulants come in many forms and in order to understand them for summer heat recovery, you have to first understand hormone activity in the plant.

According to Drs. Zhang and Schmidt at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, the balance of the various hormones within a plant is a complex interaction that controls its overall growth and development. Thus, materials that alter the hormonal status of a plant can exert large influences over its growth and health. Research at the University found that the application of bio-stimulants further enhances antioxidant activity of the grasses amplifying the plant's own defense system. These plants produce better root and shoot growth and maintain higher leaf moisture levels. Further, these plants react better to stressful conditions, like summer drought and heat. So which bio-stimulant is best? According to the Drs., naturally occurring organic materials. Furthermore, a Virginia Tech study conducted by Drs. Ervin and Zhang evaluated two types of bio-stimulants on root development and strength - peat humic substance and leonardite humic acid. Peat humic substance was found to perform better, as its source, peat, had not yet been exposed to the coalification process like leonardite humic acid.

The PrimeraTurf network exclusively carries PrimeraOne APEX-10. APEX-10 is a peat humic substance made from highly humified peat sources and created using a patented extraction process to recover humic and fulvic acids, along with other humic substances in their most beneficial form. The unique formula has been proven in several university studies, including ones completed by Dr. Zhang at Virginia Tech. Virginia Tech examined plant productivity under drought conditions and found that following 3 1/2 weeks of drought conditions, APEX-10 treated bentgrass had a much higher visual quality, less wilting, sustained growth, and sustained function when compared to the control. Results confirmed greater photochemical efficiency, a greater ability to grow and maintain root mass, and SOD antioxidant activity measured greater during drought stress. Additionally, a study done at Rutgers University by Dr. Bingru Huang found that bentgrass health improved during times of water deficit, which was attributed to better root and shoot production. These studies echo the expected outcomes of bio-stimulants seen through the extensive research done by these leading agronomic research universities. 

Adding a bio-stimulant at appropriate times of the year will increase plant health and decrease operational costs throughout the year. Imagine needing less labor hours to hand water those hot spots or transplant your yellowing flower beds. How much time and money could you save by simply adding a low input, organic bio-stimulant? Enough to add another summer vacation to your calendar? Just make sure you pack the sunscreen!

Learn more about PrimeraOne APEX-10 at www.PrimeraOne.com under "Specialty Nutritionals".