Football Pitch Biostimulants

Biostimulants are products which might be applied to a sward for many reasons, including encouraging the increase in soil micro-organisms, increase organic decomposition within a soil profile (although these first two reasons might also be classed as soil conditioning), improving the plant’s growth capability, improving root growth, improving efficacy of nutrient uptake and use, improving a plant’s drought or cold resistance, improve the plant’s disease resistance, or just improve the overall quality of the soil or health a plant. If a pitch is constructed as a sand profile or if the native soil is also of a significantly sandy nature, then there can be a place for the use of biostimulants, especially if this is identified as a genuine need from the performance of the sward.

If biostimulants are to be used then it is essential that correct maintenance practices, such as aeration, scarification, correct mowing heights, ensuring appropriate soil pH is available for the particular biostimulant, and all the other activities needed to produce a suitable turf sward are carried out. Little, if any, benefit will be gained from applying these materials without all other activities being undertaken as well. These are not a panacea for poor maintenance practices or short cuts to improving sward health.

There is a wide variety of ‘biostimulants’ available for purchase, as well as a wide range of differences in what is being offered, especially regards ingredients within a product. It is therefore important to assess any impartial research on the benefits and limitations of a product before purchasing it for a specific need. If a supplier cannot provide any suitable research then it would be unwise to take their comments of benefits at face value, otherwise, there is a significant likelihood that any potential benefits will not be justified by the money expended, or more likely that it will be a waste of money as it won’t meet the needs of the sward or soil.

(Source:
1. Jardin, Patrick Du (2015) ‘ Plant biostimulants: Definition, concept, main categories and regulation’, Scientia Horticulturae, Vol.196, pp3-14
2. Yousfi, S.; Marín, J.; Parra, L.; Lloret, J.; Mauri, P.V. A Rhizogenic Biostimulant Effect on Soil Fertility and Roots Growth of Turfgrass. Agronomy 2021, 11, 573.
3. Acuña, A., Gardner, D., Villalobos, L., & Danneberger, K. (2022). Effects of plant biostimulants on seedling root and shoot growth of three cool-season turfgrass species in a controlled environment. International Turfgrass Society Research Journal, 14, 416– 421)