ASA Southern Branch 2008 Annual Meeting
February 3-5, 2008
Dallas, TX
Monday, February 4, 2008 - 8:15 AM
Evaluation of Vitazyme as a Fertilizer Supplement in Establishing and Maintaining Bermudagrasses.
Jack Rose, Tarleton State University, 807 Newport Dr., Spicewood, TX 78669 and Hennen Cummings, Box T-0050, Tarleton State University, Tarleton State University, 201 St. Felix St., Stephenville, TX 76402.
In combination with a complete fertilizer, Vitazyme has been demonstrated to increase plant biomass and yield in row crops; however, the effects of Vitazyme in turfgrass have not been documented in the literature. Vitazyme was applied at 13 fl oz/A (0.950 L/ha) and 26 fl oz/A (1.900 L/ha) with and without a complete fertilizer to seeded Princess 77 bermudagrass, established TifSport bermudagrass, established Princess 77 bermudagrass at the Tarleton State Turfgrass Field Laboratory and Greenhouse in Stephenville, TX, and established common bermudagrass in the fairway of Legends Golf Course. In the seeded trial, Vitazyme in combination with a fertilizer increased quality, percent cover, and density compared to the non-treated; however, the effects were not significantly different from fertilizer alone in both years. There were also differences noted between the fertilized and non-fertilized treatments for quality in the TifSport and established Princess bermudagrass trials. Use of Digital Image Analysis did not show as many significant results as expected; however, significant differences among fertilized and non-fertilized treatments were measured. Significant differences among most treatments, including fertilizer and fertilizer in combination with Vitazyme treatments, were determined using a Field Scout 1000 Chlorophyll Meter, with more significant results found using this instrument than with visual ratings. In general, Vitazyme in combination with a complete fertilizer increased chlorophyll in TifSport and established Princess 77 bermudagrasses compared to fertilizer alone; however, the trend did not occur in the seeded Princess 77 trials.