Ken Quandt, Nature Safe Fertilizers The World of Organics Ken Quandt, Nature Safe Fertilizers

There is a paradigm shift in the turf industry today. New School of Thought Original School of Thought Provide NPK for plant deficiencies Provide nutrition to the soil to feed microbes, which in turn, feed the plant

More emphasis has been placed on the soil health. Healthy soil leads to a healthier turf!

For the plant, the value of microbes is in their decomposition. Microbes are short-lived with an average life span of 20 minutes.

Why Use an Organic Fertilizer? Carbon It’s the food source for microbes Microbes are 50% Carbon As they die, microbes release 20 - 40 % of their Carbon (and chelated minerals) into the soil The rest of their Carbon is released as CO2 for plant use

Synthetic fertility differs from Organic fertility in one way . . . Organic fertility is the supply of soil nutrients in the form of Carbon. Synthetic fertility differs from Organic fertility in one way . . . No Carbon!

Where does Carbon come from? Decaying plants and animals Decaying microorganisms Organic matter

Nutrients are tied up so . . . No burning No leaching No volatilization No run-off P Ca S N K C Mineralization K N K N P S K Ca Ca S N P Ca P S Microbe

Increased Microbial Populations Will: Sustain efficient NPK++++ fertilization Provide mineralized nutrients Improve soil structure - CEC - Water Holding Capacity - Soil Porosity CO2 for photosynthesis Thatch Reduction Disease Management Quicker Turf Recovery Denser Rooting/More Root Hairs

Amino Acid Profile

Types of Organics Sewage Sludges * Microbial Carcasses * 3 - 6% N * 20 - 30% Amino Acids * Subject to high heat process for sanitation * Denatured Proteins - Carbon rings held together by peptide bonds - Less than 50% available * Heavy Metals * No sugars, starches, carbohydrates, vitamins, enzymes, potash, etc. * Not a balanced feed

Protein Availability Dependent on solubility of the protein and the digestibility of the amino acids. Animal feeds are processed to increase N digestibility. Manures and sludges have the digestible components removed leaving undigestible material remaining. Excessive processing temperature for sludge renders protein denatured and very slowly available. Striated fibers.

Types of Organics Manures * Low N Content 1 - 3% * 6 - 12% Amino Acids * Most of the food value used by the animal * Extreme variability in the nutrient content * Composting is not an exact science * Animal excretes the indigestible and insoluble portions of their food * No sugars, starches, carbohydrates, vitamins, enzymes, potash, etc. * Strong odors at times * Litter has an extremely high C:N ratio

Ingredients are animal protein meals, not waste by-products. Types of Organics Constructed Ingredients are animal protein meals, not waste by-products. NOT

Constructed Fertilizers * 30 - 72% Amino Acids * Vegetable or Animal Meals * Proteins provide slow release N * Differences in protein qualities * Improperly processed meals are indigestible by microbes * Much higher degree of consistency in meal based products

Microbial Activity = Fertilizer Efficiency 100 lbs of dead microbes 10 LBS OF N 5 LBS OF P2O5 2 LBS OF K2O .5 LBS OF Ca .5 LBS OF Mg .3 LBS OF S * From E.C Roberts, The Biology of Soil A fertilizer factory continually making 10-5-2!

How do you compare Constructed Fertilizer products? * N content * Digestibility by soil microbes * Ingredients used - Leather Meal - Acidulated Bone Meal - Form of Calcium (key to good rooting) - Humus * Supply both plant and soil nutrition * Validation of performance through university research

If used regularly, organics provide many cumulative benefits: * Higher rate of photosynthesis due to increase in CO2 * No flush-starve cycles to slow putting speed and produce thatch * Reduction of existing thatch by soil microbes * Improved soil structure * Faster recovery from injury * Enhanced disease management

Denser Rooting with More Root Hairs Rhizosphere Root Hairs - EM Seedling Root Hairs

Microbial Interaction Competitive exclusion ~ when beneficial microbes increase in numbers, pathogens, which are strong only in stressful situations, decrease in number.

Research Shows - Nature Safe increased total bacterial populations while decreasing populations of two pathogens. Dr. George Lazarovits, Agri-Food Canada

In our research, Nature Safe improved bacterial populations while the synthetic actually decreased populations. Dr. George Lazarovits, Agri- Food Agriculture Canada

By increasing microbial populations, do we increase pathogens? No!

Pathogens are opportunistic. They are good survivors, not good competitors. Beneficial microbes produce chemicals to inhibit the growth of pathogens. As organics breakdown, the breakdown of nitrogen derives products lethal to pathogens.

Measuring CO2 levels validates the increase in microbes Research by Dr. George Lazarovits, Agri-Food Canada

Nature Safe by itself decreased dollar spot versus other fertilizers. Dollar Spot Research Nature Safe by itself decreased dollar spot versus other fertilizers. Dr. Joe Vargas, MSU Research

Rutgers Research Nature Safe helps improve the efficacy of fungicides when used in combination. Research by Drs. Clarke and Majumdar, Rutgers University

Nematode Research Research has also shown that Nature Safe worked in suppressing nematode populations. Research by Dr. Coleman Ward, Auburn University

Use of Organic Fertilizers Improves Stress Management “Stress Budget” * Fewer pathogens * Keeps salt levels lower * Better, more fibrous root system allows a plant more efficient nutrient and water uptake * Thicker, denser turf shields soil from heat,keeps it cooler and reduces need for water * Higher rates of photosynthesis due to higher CO2 levels * Less localized dry spot

Organic Expectations Not a quick fix Preventative rather than curative Cumulative effect of results and benefits Impact on overall budget

In conclusion, Organic Fertility provides an environment for efficient fertility as well as healthier soil which results in healthier plants.