Increased Grass Production, University of Florida Studies

University of Florida greenhouse testing was completed on turfgrass to

1. Identify the relationships between the silicon in Excell Minerals
2. Phosphorus uptake
3. Plant growth response

Turfgrass was grown in native soils at several phosphorus (P) fertilization rates (0, 50 , and 100 kg/ha) in a greenhouse environment.

Growth results indicated that the silicon in Excell Minerals significantly improved phosphorus uptake as evidenced by shoot weight improvement. Significant is in the zero phosphorus application. Excell Minerals treatment significantly out-yielded limestone amended soils at all three phosphorus amendment rates.

Additionally, Root and Shoot tissue phosphorus uptake was also evaluated for the turfgrass. The results indicate a dramatic increase in root uptake and blade tissue uptake.

Key observations include the following:

• P uptake grass grown in Excell Minerals amended soils were found to be significantly greater at the lowest P rate than those grown in limestone amended soils, even at the highest P rate.
• Root and Shoot growth response for grass grown in Excell Minerals tests were dramatically greater than those for grasses in limed soils at all P fertilization rates.

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