Organic Golf

Improve Turf Soil with Mycorrhiza and Bacteria

Ten years ago the mention of beneficial bacteria or mycorrhizal fungi to a golf superintendent might have met with a blank stare. Today managers are much more knowledgeable regarding these benefits. Specialized micro-organisms can improve fertilizer utilization, rooting depth, the speed of establishment, disease and drought resistance of turf. Superintendents take their responsibility for managing the game and the environment seriously. Having PureAg beneficial bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi inoculants as tools, enables golf managers to improve the condition of both turf and soil organically.

PureAg micro-biological blends are not new, trendy, genetically engineered organisms. These specialized bacteria and fungi have been fundamental to the survival and growth of plants for over 400 million years.

PureAg advancements in the culture of certain beneficial species are rapidly creating more cost effective products for turf management. Our inoculants can help lower operating costs over the long run. A living soil and healthy turf will retain nutrients, build soil structure, reduce stress and minimize certain maintenance activities. The appropriate use of our mycorrhiza and bacteria in turf programs will not only benefit the environment, but will also improve coverage, rooting, fertilizer utilization and drought resistance. Protecting the environment has never made more sense.

Of the micro-organisms present in turf grass soil, bacteria occur in the greatest numbers. Bacteria are small single-celled organisms that reproduce rapidly by simple cell division, producing huge numbers of cells in a short time. Under favorable conditions, bacteria can divide every 17 minutes producing enzymes and bio-surfactants. Bacteria require water to grow and reproduce, so soils with chronically low moisture limit their survival. Our products help restore that balance.

Increase your Nutrient Uptake

Although many bacteria found in turf grass are saprophytic (they primarily live on decaying organic matter), some are endophytic (they live inside healthy plants, usually in roots). In either case, a balanced population of each are good competitors with plant pathogens and therefore, can minimize damage from plant-pathogenic fungi. Bacteria that play a role in nutrient transformations in soil, and in direct plant-growth promotion are particularly important. Our products are loaded with efficient, free-living, nitrogen-fixing organisms. That is, they take nitrogen from the atmosphere and convert it to a form that plants can use. They significantly contribute to the nitrogen economy of a turf grass stand.

Many of these same bacteria naturally produce hormones that stimulate plant growth, while others efficient at promoting seedling establishment. Phytosanitary bacteria have pathogen suppressive properties. These bacteria impact turf grass health by controlling turf grass pathogens, and sometimes go unnoticed, but they can have a huge impact on disease development. High populations of these bacteria are responsible for what we call suppressive soils. These are soils where conditions are ideal for disease development and he pathogens are present, but no disease.

Bacteria are also critically important in organic-matter degradation. These organisms play a key role in maintaining the delicate balance between thatch accumulation and degradation.

Using PureAg Products on Turf Grass helps: