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Grigg Brothers® is an industry leader in science and education. Our focus has been to develop a better understanding of how phosphites, and specifically P-K Plus®, work to improve plant health and are best used as one component to an integrated approach to pest management (IPM). We call this highly effective strategy nutritional IPM.
What is nutritional IPM?
Nutritional IPM involves optimizing plant health and upregulating a turfgrass plants natural defense mechanisms, particularly during periods of environmental stress. It involves maintaining complete and balanced mineral nutrition, while using our proprietary Elicitor® Technology to enhance a plants resistance to both abiotic and biotic stress. In addition, our objective is to determine the correct tank mix partners, such as fungicides applied at low label rates, to maximize their effectiveness. The goal of nutritional IPM is to maintain optimum plant health while using pesticides judiciously, thereby protecting the environment and allowing turf mangers to save money.
What makes P-K Plus® so Effective?
Not all phosphite containing products are created the same, and turf managers should select products proven to get results. Grigg Brothers Proven® Foliar fertilizer technology (Gaussoin et al., 2009) provides the most efficient and safe nutrient and phosphite source on the market today. Increased efficiency translates to increased efficacy. P-K Plus® is field battle tested. Routine use of P-K Plus® has been documented as an effective stress and pest management tool that also provides mineral nutrition for better quality and more dependable turf. P-K Plus® is the only foliar fertilizer scientifically documented as an effective approach to managing the summer decline of cool season grasses, anthracnose (Collectotrichum cereale), microdochium patch (microdochium nivale), pythium (Pythium spp.), and root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne sp).
CLICK TO ENLARGE
 CLICK TO ENLARGENew Developments. The Science.
The most exciting new research using P-K Plus® relates to its benefit as part of a microdochium patch (Microdochium nivale) management strategy. Specifically, locations where the disease occurs chronically during cool, wet weather. Research results from Corvallis, OR and Naas, Ireland demonstrate that P-K Plus®, when applied alone or with a fungicide, significantly enhanced turf quality compared to the untreated check and fungicide applied alone treatments (Figures 1, 2 & 3). P-K Plus® should be applied sequentially every 14-21 days at the recommended rate (6 fl. oz./M; 20 L/Ha) prior to the onset of environmental conditions conducive for disease development.
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P-K Plus® contains 14% phosphite and Grigg Brothers’proprietary Proven® Foliar formulation with Elicitor® technology designed for efficiency, performance, compatibility, and safety.
Research Results (2010; 2011)
A complete and balanced foliar fertilizer program,including the use of P-K Plus®and combined with lowlabel rates of Daconil Ultrex® and / or Medallion® provided excellent suppression of anthracnose in New Brunswick,NJ. The level of control for these two treatments was significantly better than each fungicide applied alone(Figure 4). Similar results were found 2007-2010
The same foliar fertilizer program and combined with or without low label rates of Daconil Ultrex was used effectively as part of a Poa annua summer stress management program in E. Lansing, MI. These treatments provided consistent and acceptable turfgrass quality throughout the summer—and provided significantly better turf quality compared to Daconil Ultrex(1.8 oz./M) applied alone and the untreated control(Figure 5).
P-K Plus® combined with Kelplex® significantly limited nematode induced injury to creeping bentgrass (CB)compared to a fertilizer control, including the onlytreatment to provide statistically better CB qualitycompared to each control treatment on one rating date(30-Aug) (Figure 6).
Summary
• PK Plus®—Proven, Tested, Trusted
• PK Plus®is more than a phosphite and formulateddifferently from other phosphite fertilizers—making it moreeffective.
• Nutritional IPM means utilizing all options to build planthealth, maximize fungicide efficacy, and protect theenvironment.
• An important and recent discovery is the benefit of usingPK Plus®to manage microdochium patch where it occurschronically.
• PK Plus®should be applied routinely (biweekly) andpreventatively
• PK Plus®is an effective tool to manage summer stress,anthracnose, pythium, and root-knot nematodes.
 CLICK TO ENLARGE CLICK TO ENLARGEReferences
Gaussoin, R., C. Schmidt, K. Frank, T. Butler, H. Liu, W. Jarvis, and C.Baldwin. 2009. Foliar uptake of nutrients applied in solution to CreepingBentgrass (Agrostis palustris Huds.), Annual bluegrass (Poa annuavar.reptans (Hausskn.) and Ultra-Dwarf Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylonxC. transvaalensis Burtt-Davy). International Plant Nutrition Colloquium(University of California Davis). Paper 1396.
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