GCM February 1999 - Research - Zeoponic materials allow rapid greens grow-in

R
E S E A R C H

Zeoponic materials allow rapid greens grow-in

Richard D. Andrews; Anthony J. Koski, Ph.D.; James A. Murphy, Ph.D.; and A. Martin Petrovic, Ph.D.

KEY POINTS
s Bentgrass and bermudagrass establish more rapidly on zeoponic-treated root zones than on most other rooting media. s High cation exchange capacity separates zeolite materials from some other soil amendments. s Zeoponic technology involves addition of plant-growth nutrients to zeolite mineral material to produce a high-fertility soil amendment.

The science of zeoponics was developed by NASA (9) to provide a superior plant growth medium for long-term uses in outer space. Zeoponic technology relies on zeolite, a naturally occurring mineral with microscopic pores. Researchers have reported on the benefits of simple zeolite amendments in wateruse efficiency, environmental leachate reductions and plant fertility (7,8,10,11). Zeoponic technology boosts the benefits of zeolite further by charging the amendments with plant-growth nutrients. Research reveals the usefulness of zeoponic material during turf establishment such as new construction and renovation of greens, tees and other high-traffic areas on the golf course or sports field. Zeoponic ingredients Zeoponic material has two key ingredients: A natural zeolite with high cation exchange capacity (CEC) of 100 millequivalent per 100 grams or more which has been loaded with ammonium nitrogen and potassium A specially synthesized calcium hydroxy phosphate (synthetic apatite) that provides other key nutritional needs The only true zeoponic product available is ZeoPro, which is produced under patents and exclusive license from NASA by ZeoponiX of Louisville, Colo.

CSU research During 1996-97, 48 turf research plots were constructed at Colorado State University (CSU) to examine the establishment and performance of Cato creeping bentgrass (Agrostis palustris) sown in a sand-peat medium amended with zeoponic materials or an unaltered natural zeolite. The plots consisted of USGA-type 90:10 sand-and-peat root zones with amendments by volume at 5 percent, 10 percent and 20 percent of two zeoponic formulations and an untreated zeolite. Varying amounts of supplemental fertilizer were provided: normal grow-in fertility, half of normal and 1.5 times normal. The nutrient-loaded zeoponic material greatly accelerated establishment compared with any other treatments. Even with only 50 percent of normal soluble fertility applications, the zeoponic-amended plots became established about twice as fast as plots with any other treatment. And the more zeoponic amendment added, the better, in the range of 5-20 percent by volume. The untreated zeolite plots exhibited a slight retardation compared with the control, and were significantly slower in development than the nutrient-loaded zeoponic treatments. Combined with earlier reports (1) on increased root growth for bentgrass in the
Golf Course Management s February 1999

R
E S E A R C H
2

Zeoponic nutrient system

Zeoponic materials feature two crucial components: microscopically porous zeolite mineral and synthetic apatite.

zeoponic amendment at CSU, this study clearly demonstrates the benefit of using zeoponic materials to speed the establishment of a sand-based green. Corporate research ZeoponiX Inc. obtained similar results in trials of Penncross establishment during 1996-97 in Illinois (2,3). In one study the surface was amended to a 3-inch depth with zeoponic materials; in a second trial, the surface was amended through the full 12-inch root zone. The zeoponic treatments significantly outperformed both fully fertilized control plots and the natural zeolite amendments in rate of establishment and other measures of turf quality. The control and unaltered zeolite treatments were similar in performance, whereas the zeoponic treatment showed a continuously superior establishment rating of 20-30 percent above all other treatments. Cornell research In 1998, Cornell University initiated a replicated study with amendments incorporated into the full 12 inches of a USGAtype root zone. Treatments included a 90:10 sand-peat control, 10 percent by
Golf Course Management s February 1999

volume ZeoPro with the same grow-in fertility as the control, and 10 percent ZeoPro with 50 percent of normal growin fertility. The plots were seeded with a blend of Penncross and L-93 creeping bentgrass. The lead researcher said he had not observed so rapid an establishment rate in any other experiment (12). At 29 days after seeding, both ZeoPro-amended treatments had achieved approximately 80 percent turf density compared with approximately 25 percent for the control plots. Similarly, visual quality ratings at this stage rated 5 on the ZeoPro plots compared with 1.5 to 2 for the control (on a scale of zero to 9). The ZeoPro plots with 50 percent fertilization rates performed as well as the fully fertilized ZeoPro plots, suggesting it should be possible to cut back fertilization during grow-in when using a zeoponic material. Rutgers research In a trial co-funded by USGA and GCSAA at Rutgers, five soil amendments and six sand grades are being compared
c o n t i n u e d

R
E S E A R C H
unamended sand achieved ratings of about 6, 6, 7.5 and 3, respectively (5,6). Westwood Golf Club Westwood Golf Club in Arvada, Colo., added nine holes during 1997, using a typical sand green construction; however, three greens did not survive well through the first winter. Prior to reseeding in spring 1998, Jim Wilkins, CGCS, decided to use ZeoPro in two of these greens. The third green was used for a comparison or partial control. After scarification and removal of grass remaining from the fall planting, ZeoPro was incorporated into the top 23 inches at 350-500 pounds per 1,000 square feet. The comparison green was mildly scarified because it had overwintered better than the other two greens. All three Penncross-seeded greens were fertilized, amended and managed identi-

c o n t i n u e d

f r o m

p .

6 9

in a multi-year study. The inorganic soil amendments include ZeoPro and Profile (a calcined clay material), each added at 10 percent by volume. The replicated test plot greens were constructed in fall 1997 following USGA root-zone recommendations (4) with the various amendments blended into the full 12-inch depth. Plots were seeded with L-93 creeping bentgrass on May 31, 1998. All plots received standard fertilization. The fastest establishment was exhibited by the ZeoPro-amended plots. Of the inorganic amendments, both ZeoPro and Profile amendments enhanced establishment, with ZeoPro achieving and maintaining ratings of approximately 8.5 of 9 points 30 days after seeding. For the same period Profile, 10 percent and 20 percent sphagnum peat and

Turf establishment visual quality rating

6 5 4 3 2 1 0

10

20

30

40
Days after seeding

50

60

70

At Colorado State University in 1996, Cato bentgrass seeded on a root zone amended with 20 percent zeoponic material outperformed other seedings of the cultivar on other root zones. All the root zones were based on a USGA-type 90:10 sand-and-peat mix. Seeding date is July 22, 1996. All treatments have three replicate plots. Data are simple averages of observations for three replicates of each treatment for a given date.

Golf Course Management s February 1999

R
E S E A R C H
About two months after planting, bermudagrass sprigs on a 20 percent zeoponic root zone (top) have established a stand of much better quality than sprigs on a root zone with no zeoponic treatment (bottom).

cally during grow-in, except that the control green was seeded with Penncross 12 days earlier than the other two greens. The ZeoPro-amended greens exhibited accelerated establishment and overtook the control after three weeks. The control green, even after four months, is still not as well established as the ZeoPro greens, Wilkins said later. Bermudagrass sprigs In 1997, Texas State Technical College in Waco, Texas, conducted a grow-in demonstration on a newly con-

structed sand-peat green to determine the effect of a root-zone amended with ZeoPro in the top 4 inches. The green was sprigged with FloraDwarf bermudagrass (Cynodon hybrid) on July 2 and monitored for 60 days. All ZeoPro treatments were far superior in establishment compared to the sand-peat control, says Tinker Clift, chairman of the colleges golf course and turf management program. The ZeoPro 20 percent plot was fully
c o n t i n u e d

Golf Course Management s February 1999

R
E S E A R C H

c o n t i n u e d

f r o m

p .

7 1

established in 36 days, and in 49 days for both the 5 percent and 10 percent ZeoPro plots, whereas the control plot was still not established after 60 days. Bermudagrass sod An establishment test was conducted at Thomas Bros. Grass in Granbury, Texas, with Tifway 419 hybrid bermudagrass sod to examine the effects of the rate of incorporation of zeoponic materials on sod lateral expansion and establishment rate. The test was conducted in a greenhouse with a USGA greens-grade root-zone sand blended with increasing rates of ZeoPro, (0 percent, 10 percent, 15 percent, 20 percent, 30 percent, 50 percent and 100 percent by volume). A clean, washed 20-inch strip of bermuda sod was cut to exactly 4 inches wide and laid in the center of each greenhouse tray. Observations from this test were: Both the rate and degree of lateral sod growth increased in direct proportion to the amount of ZeoPro added. At 100 percent ZeoPro, the sod expanded to 9 inches after 43 days compared with 7.5 inches for 30 percent ZeoPro and only 5.5 inches with the sand control. There was no observed upper threshold of ZeoPro application rate and corresponding increased grass response, and there were no observed negative effects of growing in 100 percent ZeoPro. Summary Zeoponic materials significantly accelerate grow-in compared with other inorganic amendments. When the turnaround time of a greens seeding or renovation is critical, the use of zeoponic materials can make the difference between opening on time or early vs. a delay in play and income generation. s
Acknowledgments We thank the staffs of Cornell, Rutgers and Colorado State universities for support, especially Sarah Wilhelm at CSU and Josh Honig at Rutgers. Thanks to Tinker Clift and Texas State Technical College. Earl Allen, Ph.D., conducted bentgrass research at the ZeoponiX research facility in

Illinois. Thanks are also extended to Jim Wilkins, CGCS, at the Arvada, Colo., Golf Division. Thanks also go to Kevin Kenworthy and Ike Thomas at Thomas Bros. Grass in Granbury, Texas. Literature cited 1. Allen, E.R., and R.D. Andrews. 1997. Space Age soil mix uses centuries-old zeolites. Golf Course Management 65(5):61-66. 2. Allen, E.R., and R.D. Andrews. 1997. Effects of topdressing and incorporation of ZeoponiX amendments on turfgrass establishment in a sand-based root zone: Turfgrass Experiment No. 2.1. ZeoponiX Inc. (internal report). 3. Allen, E.R., and R.D. Andrews. 1997. Effects of including zeoponic amendments as sandbased root zone mix components on turfgrass establishment: Turfgrass Experiment No. 2.2. ZeoponiX Inc. (internal report). 4. Anonymous. 1993. USGA recommendations for a method of putting green construction. USGA Green Section Record 31(2):1-21. 5. Honig, J.A., J.A. Murphy and S.L. Murphy. 1998. Establishment of creeping bentgrass as affected by root zone mixtures and microenvironment. p. 142 In: Agronomy abstracts. American Society of Agronomy, Madison, Wis. 6. Murphy, J., S. Murphy, J. Honig, H. Motto, B. Clarke, R. Tate and E. Gaulin. 1998. Assessing root zone mixes for putting greens over time under two environmental conditions. Progress Report to the USGA. Rutgers University, Cook College, New Brunswick, N.J. 7. Huang, Z.T., and A.M. Petrovic. 1996. Clinoptilolite zeolite effect on evapotranspiration rate and shoot growth rate of creeping bentgrass on sand-based greens. Journal of Turfgrass Management 1(4):1-9. 8. Huang, Z.T., and A.M. Petrovic. 1994. Clinoptilolite zeolite influence on nitrate leaching and nitrogen use efficiency in simulated sand-based golf greens. Journal of Environmental Quality 23:1190-1194. 9. Ming, D.W., D.C. Golden and C. Galindo. 1992. Fertilization by mineral dissolution and ion exchange: synthetic apatites and natural zeolites. p. 361. In: Agronomy abstracts. ASA, Madison, Wis. 10. Nus, J.L., and S.E. Brauen. 1991. Clinoptilolite zeolite as an amendment for establishment of creeping bentgrass on sandy media. HortScience 26:117-119. 11. Petrovic, A.M. 1993. Research update: potential for natural zeolite uses on golf courses. USGA Green Section Record 31(1):11-14. 12. Petrovic, A.M. 1998. Interim report on ZeoPro research. Department of Floriculture and Ornamental Horticulture, Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.

Richard D. Andrews is chief executive officer and founder of ZeoponiX, Inc., Louisville, Colo. Anthony J. Koski, Ph.D., is an associate professor and turf Extension specialist at Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo. James A. Murphy, Ph.D., is an associate Extension specialist in turfgrass management at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N.J. A. Martin Petrovic, Ph.D., is a professor of turfgrass science at Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.

Golf Course Management s February 1999