2019 ASHS Annual Conference

Professional golf course putting greens in the upper Midwestern U.S. typically consist of creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera) cultured on an engineered sand-based substrate. Creeping bentgrass is mowed at extremely short heights which limits root growth and makes mineral nutrient absorption difficult. Tytanit^® is a commercial biostimulant product which combines S, Mg, and Ti-ascorbate. Previous studies of Tytanit^® application to crops have reported increased essential nutrient uptake, but results have been inconsistent. No study to date has been performed on turfgrass using Tytanit^®. Therefore, our objective was to determine the effect of foliar applied Tytanit^® to L-93 creeping bentgrass putting greens on engineered sand-based rooting profiles at two locations in Central IL. Tytanit^® treatments followed product label rates for horticultural crops (0.07% total spray volume) and agronomic crops (0.14% total spray volume) applied along with a non-ionic surfactant (Spreader Sticker, Lesco, Cleveland, OH) to plots using a boom sprayer (Smithco Spraystar 3180, John Deere HD 200) in a split plot experimental design in May of 2017. Each individual plot was 7.62 m long and 1.5 m wide with a 1.5 m wide buffer zone between each treatment. The total plot size was 7.62 m long and 22.86 m wide at each location. Strips of each treatment were made on turf surfaces and four replicated plots were sampled from within each strip. Soil samples were collected from each plot before Tytanit^® application at 2 and 4 weeks after the application. Leaf tissue samples were collected from individual treatment and control plots from reel mower clippings prior to Tytanit^® application and every 3 days during a 6-week period. Soil and tissue samples were analyzed for elemental content using Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) analysis by a commercial soil testing laboratory. Leaf tissue P (P=0.07), S (P=0.01), and Cu (P=0.001) content increased linearly after the 0.07% Tytanit^® rate application, while leaf tissue Ca (P=0.05), P (P=0,05), and Cu (P=0.03) content decreased, then increased quadratically after the 0.14% Tytanit^® rate application at one testing location. Uptake of all other essential elements were not significantly different than control plots. Nutrient uptake stimulation lasted between 4 and 10 days after the Tytanit^® treatment. Titanium delivered as Tytanit^® did impact creeping bentgrass nutrient uptake, but results were location and nutrient specific and further testing is needed to determine the benefit of application to professional turfgrass.