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

2. 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

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

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

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

6. 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!

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

8. 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

9. 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

10. Amino Acid Profile

11. Types of Organics Sewage Sludges * Microbial Carcasses * 3 - 6% N
* % 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

12. 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.

13. 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

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

15. Constructed Fertilizers
* % 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

16. 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!

17. 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

18. 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

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

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

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

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

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

24. 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.

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

26. 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

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

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

29. 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

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

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