The Grigg Brothers® brand means foliar fertilizer quality, performance, compatibility, and efficiency. At Grigg Brothers®, we recognize that innovation through research and development provides the best and most trusted agronomic solutions. Our research efforts remain focused and designed to solve golf superintendents’ problems and provide additional turfgrass management tools. Research maintains Grigg Brothers® as an industry leader in science based plant nutrition solutions. Find all of our collaborative research at:http://www.griggbros.com/.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
Integrated Disease Management focuses on three (3) important concepts:
• Utilize all options (biological, cultural, chemical)
• Establish maximum disease thresholds and design strategies to manage at acceptable levels
• Protect the environment
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Effectively manage fungal pathogens on turfgrass systems by using best fertilizer practices (BFM). Identify the disease(s) present or greatest risk of occurring and choose the best source, rate and application method or nitrogen (N). Maintain balanced and adequate nutrition when environmental conditions become conducive to disease development. Grigg Brothers® has focused its research objectives on learning how to maximize plant health by using highly efficient foliar fertilizers and elicitors like phosphite (H2PO3), understanding nutrient/pathogen interactions, and evaluating the synergy between foliar fertilizers and fungicides applied at low label rates.
Summer Stress of Creeping Bentgrass
Adverse environmental conditions such as high heat, drought, and/or salinity combined with low mowing heights and disease pressure often lead to ‘summer stress syndrome’ in the transition zone and northern climates where cool season grasses are managed. This general malaise of creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stoloniferous) includes a general decline in turf vigor, limited root function, poor recuperative capacity, and increased disease pressure. Research was initiated in 2008 at Virginia Tech University to evaluate the effectiveness of low dose and frequent foliar fertilizer applications, including those containing phosphate (PO4-), phosphite (PO3-) and a fungicide to alleviate creeping bentgrass summer stress.
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Anthracnose Management
Anthracnose (Colletotrichum graminicola) is a major disease problem on golf course putting greens. An integrated approach is the most effective management strategy for lessening the severity and incidence of this disease, including the utilization of appropriate cultural practices and a rotational fungicide program. Low mowing heights, low N or unbalanced fertility, and plant stress will increase the risk for disease development. Research was initiated in 2008 at Rutgers University to determine the effect of highly efficient foliar fertilizers, including those that contain potassium phosphite (K2PO3) applied alone or in combination with low label fungicide rates on anthracnose incidence and severity on an annual bluegrass (Poa annua) putting green.
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Research Results
Creeping Bentgrass Summer Stress
PK Plus® [3-7-18 + micronutrients + potassium phosphite (K2PO3)] combined with Daconil Ultrex (3.2 fl. oz./M) provided superior turf quality compared to the untreated control and similar turf quality compared to a rotational pesticide program utilizing five (5) different fungicides# (Figure 1). This foliar plus fungicide treatment also provided the best turf color as measured by the relative color index (RCI) ratings (Figure 2). Utilize a foliar fertilizer program on a 14 day spray interval containing adequate nitrogen (0.13 lb N/M), phosphate (PO4-), phosphite (PO3-), micronutrients, and a broad spectrum contact fungicide to provide excellent creeping bentgrass quality. This program is designed to facilitate adequate turfgrass nutritional needs during summer stress, including phosphite (H2PO3) for plant health, while limiting pesticide use as part of an integrated approach to disease management.
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Anthracnose Management
PK Plus® [3-7-18 + micronutrients + potassium phosphite (K2PO3)] applied in combination with Daconil Ultrex (1.8 fl. oz/M) provided excellent anthracnose suppression, significantly better than the untreated check and consistently better, on average, than either Daconil Ultrex (1.8 oz./M) or PK Plus (6 fl. oz./M) applied alone, and statically similar to Daconil Ultrex (3.2 oz./M) and Chipco Signature (4 oz./M) treatments (Figure 3). Based on these results, utilize PK Plus® regularly (7-14 days), and start prior to when environmental conditions become conducive to disease development. Apply PK Plus® in combination with a low label rate of Daconil Ultrex (1.8 oz./M) as an effective and integrated anthracnose management strategy.
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