Progressing Forward: Into the Biological Era
Welcome to a new era in turf management — an era in which biology and sustainability take centre stage. The role of biological products in turf care is rapidly expanding, introducing a myriad of innovative solutions that promise not only to revolutionise how we maintain our golf courses but also to enhance their resilience, aesthetics and biodiversity.
Through the approaching years, governmental legislation will shape the products that we use within sports turf management. The European Biostimulant Industry Council (2023) identifies biostimulants as the following:’ Plant biostimulants are defined as fertilising products the function of which is to stimulate plant nutrition processes independently of the product’s nutrient content with the aim of improving the following characteristics of the plant or the plant rhizosphere: nutrient use efficiency, tolerance to abiotic stress, quality traits, or the availability of confined nutrients in the soil or rhizosphere (EU, 2019). Plant biostimulants are thus defined by their function, and may incorporate a wide range of components in their formulation (Yakhin et al., 2017).
It’s worth noting that many biostimulants have multiple modes of action, and can benefit both the plant and the rhizosphere. For example, humic and fulvic acids can enhance nutrient availability in the rhizosphere, but can also have direct effects on the plant, such as stimulating root growth and enhancing stress tolerance. As stated in the EU Fertilising Products Regulation (FPR) [Regulation (EU) 2019/1009], the function of a product, what is claimed on the product label, “shall be supported by the product’s mode of action, the relative content of its various components, or any other relevant parameters” (application mode, rate or timing), not simply by the presence of certain components that could be used in different products subject to different regulatory frameworks (EU, 2019).
Fidanza (2023) has proposed a classification framework for the listing of biostimulants in turfgrass. This framework provides a general classification of common biostimulants used in turfgrass management, organised by their primary target (either the plant or the rhizosphere) and their composition. The active or functional ingredients listed are the components of each biostimulant that are thought to contribute most to their beneficial effects. In addition to this framework, functions within the plant have been added with reference to plant physiology and soil fertility and biostimulants from a global perspective. (Carrow, 2002; Taiz, et al, 2018; Willey, 2019; du Jardin, 2015; Verma, et al, 2016; Khan, et al, 2009; Bulgari, Franzoni, Ferrante, 2019; Canellas, et al, 2015; Dempsey, et al, 2022a; Dempsey, et al, 2022b). Also added are products from the AGS biostimulant portfolio.
As turf management professionals, we are responsible for staying informed and understanding the regulation and the current market, exploring every corner of the ever-changing landscape. This blog post aims to inform you about key terminologies that will soon become the norm and significantly influence your future turf management strategies. In the upcoming posts, we will delve deeper into these terminologies and products, examining their potential benefits, applications, and impact on our industry. To note, this is a continually evolving industry domain that will change vastly over the coming years. As professionals, we must be ready to embrace and adapt to these advancements. Keeping you abreast of the changes is a prerequisite for AGS to empower the turfgrass management industry and move towards sustainable change. Here’s to a future that is not just greener in colour but also in practice.
Plant
| Category1 | Examples of active or functional2 ingredients | Examples of biostimulants3 | Functions within the plant5 | AGS Products6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phytohormones | Abscisic acid (ABA) Auxin Brassinosteroids Cytokinin Ethylene Gibberellins (GAs) Jasmonic Acid (JA) Salicylic Acid (SA) Strigolactones | Algae, kelp, seaplant, seaweed extract, indoleacetic acid (IAA), benzyl-adenine, gibberellins and more | Regulate growth and development, stimulate cell division and elongation, Apical dominance, delay senescence, seed germination, response to environmental stress, ripening hormone, stomatal closure, plant defence responses, regulation of photomorphogenesis and more. | Solunar Goemar Seaweed Super Fifty Sustane Bolster 4.4.4 Micro Grow |
| Biopolymers, protein hydrolysates and other N-containing compounds | Alginate Amino Acids Antioxidants Betaines Chitin Enzymes Fatty Acids Lipopeptides Lignosulfonates Non-protein amino acids Peptides Polyamines Polysaccharides Vitamins Others | Amino acids, chitosan, glycine betaine and more | Help in osmoregulation, protect against abiotic stress, building blocks of proteins, enhancing plant growth and stress tolerance, Improve nutrient uptake, stimulate growth, enhance resistance to diseases and environmental stress and more. | Amino V Essential Plus 1.0.1 |
| Other botanical or synthetic bioactive compounds | Elicitor compounds Induced systemic resistance (ISR) compounds Systemic acquired resistance (SAR) compounds Plant defence activator compounds Others | Harpin, jasmomic acid (JA), salicylic acid (SA), acibenzolae-S-methyl and more | Triggers immune responses within the plant assist against biotic and abiotic stress and more. | Growth Products SAR |
Soil/Rhizosphere
| Category | Examples of active or functional ingredients | Examples of biostimulants | Functions within the plant | AGS Products |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Humic Substances | Fulvic Acid Humic Acid Others | Leondardite, ignite ore, humates, bio-humates and more | Nutrient availability and uptake, root growth and development, stress tolerance, soil structure, microbial activity and more | Suståne Bolster 4.4.4 Fulvic Acid Advance 3.0.3 Humic |
| Organics | Biochar Bioextracts Biofertilisers Composts/compost extracts Soil Amendments/supplements Others | Biochar, composts, compost teas, kelp, seaweed extracts, vermi/worm extracts and more | Bio-stimulants are substances or micro-organisms applied to plants or the soil to enhance cation exchange capacity (CEC), nutrient efficiency, abiotic stress tolerance, turfgrass quality, and more. | Suståne Compost Tea Bags Suståne Regen 1.1.1 Suståne Organic Fertiliser Range Solunar Goemar Seaweed Advance Liquid Seaweed Super Fifty Prime |
| Inorganics/minerals | Al, Co, Na, Mo, Se, Si etc Phosphites Others | Phosphite, Silica and more | Disease suppression, nutrient uptake and transport, stress tolerance, strength and rigidity of the grass plant and more. | Growth Products Silguard TKO Phosphite 0.29.26 |
| Biologicals/microbials | Beneficial Fungi - Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi Trichoderma spp and more Beneficial bacteria – Bacillus spp and other species Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) Others | Nutrient cycling, induced ISR, enzyme production, antibiotic production, rooting and overall plant growth, tolerance against abiotic stress and more | Advance Liquid Endo Mycorrhizae Advance Mycorrhizal Inoculant Residuce Companion Growth Products Bionutrients 1.0.4 |
|
| Soil Surfactants4 | --?-- | --?-- | --?-- | --?-- |
| Other naturally derived or synthetic bioactive compounds | Elicitor compounds Induced systemic resistance (ISR) compounds Systemic acquired resistance (SAR) compounds Plant defence activator compounds Others | Harpin, jasmomic acid (JA), salicylic acid (SA), acibenzolae-S-methyl and more | Triggers immune responses within the plant assist against biotic and abiotic stress and more. | SAR Activator |
- Category based on chemical or physical composition (Fidanza,2023).
- Examples of active or functional ingredients (Fidanza,2023).
- Broad or general name of biostimulant product (Fidanza,2023).
- Proposed location of soil surfactants as a category if some of those soil surfactants are to be considered or included as a biostimulant (Fidanza,2023).
- Plant physiology and soil fertility functions with the plant (Joshua Thomason, 2023).
- AGS biostimulant products (Joshua Thomason, 2023)
References
Bulgari, R., Franzoni, G., Ferrante, A. (2019). Biostimulants Application in Horticultural Crops under Abiotic Stress Conditions. Agronomy, 9(6), 306. DOI: 10.3390/agronomy9060306
Carrow, R.N., Waddington, D.V. and Rieke, P.E. (2002) Turfgrass Soil Fertility & Chemical Problems: Assessment and Management. John Wiley & Sons.
Canellas, L. P., Olivares, F. L., Aguiar, N. O., Jones, D. L., Nebbioso, A., Mazzei, P., & Piccolo, A. (2015). Humic and fulvic acids as biostimulants in horticulture. Scientia Horticulturae, 196, 15-27.
Dempsey, J. J., Wilson, I. D., Spencer-Phillips, P. T. N. and Arnold, D. L. (2022a). Uptake and translocation of foliar applied phosphite and its effect on growth and development in cool-season turfgrass.Journal of Plant Nutrition 45(13): 2003–2022.https://doi.org/10.1080/01904167.2022.2044489.
Dempsey, J. J., Wilson, I. D., Spencer-Phillips, P. T. N. and Arnold, D. L. (2022b). Phosphite-mediated enhancement of defence responses inAgrostis stolonifera andPoa annua infected byMicrodochium nivale.Plant Pathology 00: 1–10.https://doi.org/10.1111/ppa.13584.
du Jardin, P. (2015) ‘Plant Biostimulants: Definition, concept, main categories and regulation’, Scientia Horticulturae, 196, pp. 3–14. doi:10.1016/j.scienta.2015.09.021.
EU (2019) Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 June 2019 laying down rules on the making available on the market of EU fertilising products and amending regulations (EC) no 1069/2009 and (EC) no 1107/2009 and Repealing Regulation (EC) no 2003/2003 (text with EEA Relevance), Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 June 2019 laying down rules on the making available on the market of EU fertilising products and amending Regulations (EC) No 1069/2009 and (EC) No 1107/2009 and repealing Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003 (Text with EEA relevance). Available at: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2019/1009/contents (Accessed: 19 July 2023).
Fidanza, M. (2023) in Achieving Sustainable Turfgrass Management. Cambridge: Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing, pp. 260–270.
Khan, W., Rayirath, U. P., Subramanian, S., Jithesh, M. N., Rayorath, P., Hodges, D. M., … & Craigie, J. S. (2009). Seaweed extracts as biostimulants of plant growth and development. Journal of Plant Growth Regulation, 28(4), 386-399. DOI: 10.1007/s00344-009-9103-x
Taiz, L. et al. (2018) Plant Physiology and Development. SINAUER Associates INC, U.
Verma, V., Ravindran, P., & Kumar, P. P. (2016). Plant hormone-mediated regulation of stress responses. BMC Plant Biology, 16(1), 1-10. DOI: 10.1186/s12870-016-0771-y
Willey, N. (2019) Environmental Plant Physiology. London: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group.
Yakhin, O. et al. (2017) Biostimulants in plant science: A global perspective – semantic scholar. Available at: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Biostimulants-in-Plant-Science%3A-A-Global-Yakhin-Lubyanov/9323dc35f5d1b11e70842f77b450f5977da562d0 (Accessed: 19 July 2023).
