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Three Root Biomass and Bacterial Count Trials
using Humate and Viresco
Bacterial Counts on Leaf - Longevity of Bacteria
During the summer 2000, a trial was carried out using
a foliar Viresco™ product on grass leaf. This test looked
at populations of bacteria on the leaf and their longevity.
There is a commonly held, but incorrect belief, that
applying bacteria to leaf is pointless as they quickly die because
of the damaging effect of ultra violet radiation in sunlight. There
is no question that UV does kill bacteria. However, our foliar Viresco
products are formulated so as to give considerable protection from
UV light to the bacteria they contain.
There is available a piece of equipment that golf
greenkeepers use daily to "brew up" microbial mixes for
immediate application to golf greens. This equipment is not needed
as our foliar products can raise dramatically and keep at a high
level for many days the bacterial counts on leaf. During the summer
of 2000, London University carried out a test on turf grass to look
at this question.
The product used for the trial is a 50% constituent
of Viresco™ Foliar. Prior to application to the grass leaf,
bacterial counts were done on ten replicates. Further counts, expressed
as millions per sq. cm., were done on a regular basis and the results
were as follows:
| Prior to the experiment |
5.60 million |
| After 1 day |
12.44 million |
| After 7 days |
13.52 million |
| After 14 days |
8.99 million |
| After 21 days |
5.66 million |
| After 28 days |
6.73 million |
| After 35 days |
4.59 million |
| After 41 days |
4.34 million |
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It can be readily seen that the bacterial count immediately
increased after application and whilst there was then a falling
back in numbers, reasonably high counts were maintained for over
14 days.
It is worth pointing out that no other application of either Humate
or Viresco™ was made to the soil in which the grass was growing.
We believe that if a full Humate/Viresco™ programme had been
in place then the bacterial counts would have been larger and lasted
longer at the higher levels.
Comment
Very impressive increases in bacterial counts can
be made and maintained when Humate and Viresco™ products are
used on greens and sports fields. However, the bacterial counts
on golf greens vary considerably according to the pH of the soil
and the type of green.
Microbes have many functions and high counts are important
in regard to good turf management. These functions include the breakdown
of organic compounds including lignin and cellulose, the formation
of humus, the stabilisation of soil, nutrient recycling, fixing
of nitrogen from air and disease suppression.
The trials showed that an extremely large increase
in root biomass can be achieved in a relatively short period when
the Humate and Viresco™ products are used. Greenkeepers and
groundsmen are constantly striving to increase the root biomass
on their turf. Our Humate and Viresco™ programmes can give
them, and others, what they are seeking!
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