Research
"Floratine Products Group believes in and supports university research. We fully understand that university studies and the information these studies provide is an invaluable tool and educational resource for superintendents and turf managers in their persuit of maintaining the strongest, healthiest turf.
Because of our commitment to university research, top turfgrass professors like Penn State professors Carmen Magro, former director of turfgrass management, and Dr. Tom Watschke, professor emeritus of turfgrass science, have joined our staff to help continue our commitment to ongoing university research and new product development protocol."
University of Maryland
Creeping Bent Grass Quality and Rooting
Dr. Thomas Turner, 1991 and 1992 |
| Products: | Astron, Knife, and Renaissance | | Results: | Astron demonstrated significant improvements in root development over N and two other biostimulants; vegetative reproduction under high temperature and humidity stress noted by researchers. |
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Sod Root Development - Kentucky Bluegrass
Dr. Thomas Turner, 1993 |
| Products: | Astron, Knife | | Results: | Both products performed far above check and iron chelate treatment and on par with heavy N applications. |
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Root and Shoot Growth - Zoysia Grass
Student Project under Dr. Carroll (not for publication), 1991 |
| Products: | Per “4” Max | | Results: | Significant rooting and shoot increase over control with all three treatments. |
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Zoysia Sprig Establishment
Dr. Mark Carroll, 1993 |
| Products: | Per “4” Max | | Results: | The Per “4” Max plots were not irrigated for 2 weeks immediately following sprigging because of a protocol error. No positive results except that the turf lived despite no watering or rain. |
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Dollar Spot - Brown Patch Resistance Trials
Dr. Peter Dernoeden, 1999 |
| Products: | Floradox | | Results: | Negative. Dr. Dernoeden was not able to follow the stipulated treatment regimen. |
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Astron - Primo Maxx Growth Comparison
Dr. Pete Dernoeden (sponsored by USGA), 2001 |
| Products: | Astron | | Results: | Dr. Dernoeden hypothesized that there may be some slight increase of clippings when Astron is used concurrently with Primo Maxx when no nitrogen applied (see N.C. State, 2001, and Penn State University, 2002, Syngenta-Canada conclusions). |
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Southern Illinois University
Zoysia Turf Quality and Color
Dr. Kenneth Diesburg, 1991 |
| Products: | Per “4” Max, Astron, Knife, Renaissance (Biostimulants) in various combinations and rates. | | Results: | Floratine Products rated very high (1st, 2nd, and 5th out of top 11) against a wide variety of nutrient products. |
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Zoysia - Quality and Color
Dr. Kenneth Diesburg, 1992 |
| Products: | Per “4” Max, Knife, Renaissance (Biostimulants)
Maxiplex, CalpHlex (Soil Amendments) | | Results: | FPG Products’ plots quality and color ratings were high in their categories. |
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Maxiplex Effect on Infiltration Rate & Water Retention of Sand Based Rootzones
Dr. Kenneth Diesburg, Dr. She-King Chong, 1995 |
| Products: | Maxiplex | | Results: | Maxiplex increased water retention 66-70% in 100% sand and 77% in an 80-20 (peat) green. |
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Bentgrass Grow-In
Dr. Kenneth Diesburg, 1996 |
| Products: | Maxiplex, CalpHlex, Retain (Soil Treatments)
Germinex Talc (Biostimulant Seed Treatment) | | Results: | Floratine treatment was top finisher in quality among a large group of fertilizers and biostimulants. Researchers killed plots three months after germination with a post emergent herbicide misapplication. |
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Astron Effect on Low Stress/Low Maintenance Bent
Dr. Kenneth Diesburg, Dr. She-King Chong, 1996 |
| Products: | Astron and low N & K | | Results: | Significant root growth increase over 4 month period in seven of nine cultivars. Higher quality ratings with Astron treatments on 7 out of 9 cultivars (on one other cultivar Astron was equal to control, and control was better than Astron with one cultivar). |
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CalpHlex/Maxiplex/Retain & Low N on Bentgrass
Dr. Kenneth Diesburg, Dr. She-King Chong, 1997 |
| Products: | CalpHlex, Maxiplex, Retain, and Low N | | Results: | Floratine at 0.5 lbs N plot quality as good “as Nutraline, Polyon, Optimil, and Milorganite at 2 lbs N” - Diesburg. |
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Virginia Tech University
Fungicide Efficacy
Dr. Houston Couch, 1992 - 1993 |
| Products: | Raider TG | | Results: | 1992 experimental applications of Raider TG to determine impact on fungicide effectiveness on Penneagle and Penncross bentgrass. Raider increased effectiveness with Banner in first test but no increase in second.
Repeat in 1993 showed increased statistical control in some instances, no statistical differences in others. |
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Biostimulant Studies
Dr. Richard Schmidt, 1992 - 1993 |
| Products: | Astron | | Results: | - Drought resistance and root and topical growth improved on Kentucky Bluegrass.
- Wilt recovery improved on Tall Fescue (Rebel 11).
- Root development and sod strength improved on Tall Fescue (Rebel Jr.).
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Utah State University
Molecular Studies
Dr. Anne Anderson, et al, 2000 - 2001 |
| Products: | Floradox, Oxyflor, ProteSyn | | Results: | - Molecular studies on Floradox effect on defense protein gene transcriptionenhancement in turfgrass. Results positive.
- Oxyflor as an agent to deliver increased O2 to rootzone. Results positive.
- ProteSyn as an agent to enhance Floradox increased activity of plant immune system. Results inconclusive.
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Penn State University
Wilt Stress Prevention With Biostimulants
Mr. George Hamilton, 1995 |
| Products: | Astron, Perk Up, Maxiplex | | Results: | Some indications of higher ratings, but dry wilt procedures not replicative of naturally occurring wilt on golf greens. No statistical differences. |
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Plant Growth Regulator (Primo Maxx) Biostimulant Activity on Bentgrass
Dr. T. L. Watschke, et al, 2002 |
| Products: | Astron | | Results: | Less height of grass and no increase of clippings when Astron + N used with Primo as compared to Primo Maxx + N. |
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Michigan State University
Disease Injury Management
Dr. J. M. Vargas. Jr., 1992-93 |
| Products: | Astron | | Results: | First year no disease pressure. Second year, damage from summer patch reduced on Astron alone and Astron/fungicide plots. “It demonstrated that by keeping the grass healthy you can reduce the amount of injury caused by a stress disease like summer patch.” - Vargas |
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Weed Control with Trimec
Dr. Bruce Branham, 1991 |
| Products: | Raider (adjuvant) | | Results: | Efficacy of Trimec at low label rates was increased. No benefit at higher Trimec rates. |
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Raider Dimension Study
Dr. Bruce Branham, 1992 |
| Products: | Raider (adjuvant) | | Results: | No improvement found in Dimension efficacy. |
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Turf Quality (summer stress) with Phosphite Treatment
Dr. J. M. Vargas. Jr., et al, 2005 & 2006 |
| Products: | PK Fight and Biostimulants | | Results: | First year study as unlabeled, second year as labeled foliar nutrient products. Both years, all Floratine products produced superior turf compared to control and equal or close to ratings on plots using two fungicide combinations. |
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Washington State University
Biostimulants on Golf Course Putting Greens
Dr. Gwen Stahnke, 1993 |
| Products: | Astron, Knife, Renaissance, Perk Up | | Results: | Some improvements in color under low fertility and rooting as well as indications of improving bentgrass competitive advantage over poa. One year study with encouraging but mixed results was not repeated in 1994, as planned. |
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Olds College (Canada)
Addamax-TG Effect on Germination of Kentucky Bluegrass
Dr. M.A. Batten, 1993 |
| Products: | Addamax-TG (Biostimulant seed treatment)
(Note: Addamax was a liquid version of Germinex) | | Results: | Treatments had significant positive effects on plant emergence, height, and early root development. |
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Prarie Turfgrass Research Center Evaluation of Water & Soil Treatments toImprove Rootzone Permeability on Sand-Based Golf Course Greens
2001 |
| Products: | CalpHlex | | Results: | Study designed to determine benefits of CalpHlex and sulphuric acid treatments on poor water quality and its saline effects on soil and turf. CalpHlex excelled in turf quality (color, density) improvements; significant soil pH, salt indicators (EC, SAR, sodium, chloride), and sulfate and chloride reductions. CalpHlex alone surpassed any benefits seen from sulfuric acid. |
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North Carolina State University
Starmount Country Club Health (reduced fungicide) Management
Dr. Leon Lucas, 2001 |
| Products: | Astron, Perk Up, Renaissance, Knife, NOW Products, Floradox | | Results: | Treated and untreated plots were established on practice putting green and a course green. One month after beginning of trials, superintendent abandoned project because members complained about control area quality compared to treated areas. |
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Astron Interaction with Turf Growth Regulator (DATA ONLY)
Dr. Fred Yelverton, 2001 |
| Products: | Astron, Primo Maxx, Trimmit | | Results: | Over rating period, Astron had no adverse effect on reduced clippings of either Primo Maxx or Trimmit. |
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Turf Quality & Rooting
Dr. Rich Cooper, 2003 & 2004 |
| Products: | Biostimulants on university plots and two golf courses | | Results: | Reports for both years showed no statistical improvements on university plots, despite photographic monitoring records indicating substantial rooting improvements and, at times, decreased dollar spot. |
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University of Illinois
Plant Health Trials
Dr. Tom Fermaniam, 2002-03 |
| Results: | No positive results. |
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Cornell University
Plant Health Trials
Dr. Frank Rossi, 2003-04 |
| Results: | Dr. Rossi did not report results for 2002. 2003 and 2004 reports indicate Dr. Rossi’s own fertilizer mix performed as well as any biostimulant applications. |
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University of Wisconsin
Plant Health Trials/Reduced Nitrogen
Dr. Wayne Kussow, 2002-05 |
| Results: | Ongoing at O.J. Noer Center and cooperating golf courses. These are comprehensive trials including soil evaluations and amendment to evaluate alternatives to traditional fertilizer applications on turfgrass. |
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Wetting Agent - Percolation & Water Infiltration
Dr. Wayne Kussow, 2002 |
| Products: | Pervade | | Results: | Pervade increased infiltration 27% and 42% over control. “Pervade is among the most effective products currently available.” - Kussow
Note: Dr. Kussow also validated effectiveness of one of FPG’s key organic components in ProteSyn and Floradox in 1995 tests. |
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University of Minnesota, Wasella
Astron on Bentgrass
Brad Pedersen, Associate Professor, 1990 |
| Products: | Astron | | Results: | Informal turf student test. Mr. Pedersen reported good apical and root response from applications. |
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Ohio State University
Test Protocol Unknown
Dr. John Street, 1992 |
| Products: | Raider, Penetrax (early FPG wetting agent), Per “4” Max, Knife, Renaissance, Astron | | Results: | Products supplied as requested. No report on results. |
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Syngenta, Canada
Astron - Primo Maxx Growth Comparison
2003 |
| Products: | Astron | | Results: | No offset of Primo reduced growth effect. |
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Agricultural Technologies Inc. (Canada)
Seed Germination and Early Plant Growth Enhancement
1990 |
| Products: | Addamax (liquid version of Germinex) | | Results: | Merion Blue Grass seed emerged earlier, developed better early rooting, and produced better roots. |
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