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Two ICL biostimulants prove better than one

April 23, 2024/in News, Press Release/by Lucy Nicholls

Two ICL biostimulants prove better than one: An ICL trial at St Andrews Links demonstrated that tank-mixing Vitalnova SMX with an H2Pro TriSmart programme significantly enhanced golf green turf quality and rootzone health, surpassing the improvements achieved by using TriSmart alone. A trial conducted at St Andrews Links in 2022 illustrated the advantages of combining […]

ABA Groundcare Celebrates 10 Years with Yamaha

April 22, 2024/in News, Press Release/by Admin

ABA Groundcare Celebrates 10 Years with Yamaha: First established in 2014, ABA Groundcare based in Tiverton, Devon celebrates 10 years of selling Yamaha’s ATV range this April. Jamie Hutchings initially set up the business following dealer changes in the area and was awarded the franchise in 2014. With a strong background selling the brand for […]

Two ICL biostimulants prove better than one

April 23, 2024/in News, Press Release/by Lucy Nicholls

ABA Groundcare Celebrates 10 Years with Yamaha

April 22, 2024/in News, Press Release/by Admin

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Two ICL biostimulants prove better than one

April 23, 2024/in News, Press Release/by Lucy Nicholls

Two ICL biostimulants prove better than one: An ICL trial at St Andrews Links demonstrated that tank-mixing Vitalnova SMX with an H2Pro TriSmart programme significantly enhanced golf green turf quality and rootzone health, surpassing the improvements achieved by using TriSmart alone.

A trial conducted at St Andrews Links in 2022 illustrated the advantages of combining two proven technologies. Tank-mixing the seaweed biostimulant Vitalnova SMX with the non-microbial biostimulant surfactant H2Pro TriSmart programme yielded significant additional benefits. This research emphasised the capacity of the combined treatments to improve turf health, particularly during dry summer months.

Two ICL biostimulants prove better than one

The trial, employing a randomised, replicated, block design, was conducted on a Fescue-dominant golf green turf nursery underlain by a sandy rootzone. The study aimed to assess the benefits of incorporating Vitalnova SMX, a liquid biostimulant containing 10% Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed solids, into a TriSmart wetting agent programme (a product that also boasts proven biostimulant properties).

In the trial, plots treated only with TriSmart and untreated plots served as bases for statistical comparison. The trial was assessed every 2-3 weeks for turf quality, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), and soil moisture content at two depths (38mm and 76mm). At the trial’s conclusion, soil samples were analysed for rootzone microbial content.

Over the course of seven monthly applications from March until August, the assessment results revealed that the H2Pro TriSmart-only programme significantly increased volumetric moisture content (VMC) at both depths, as well as achieving improvements in Turf Quality and NDVI compared to the untreated plots. Most notably, the addition of Vitalnova SMX to the H2Pro TriSmart programme further enhanced Turf Quality Scores, both early and late in the season, surpassing results from the TriSmart-only treatments.

In terms of rootzone microbial analysis, the TriSmart-only treated plots contained significantly greater total bacteria, total fungi, and total microbial biomass than the untreated control plots. The combination of TriSmart and SMX significantly increased microbial biomass and total fungi beyond the already enhanced TriSmart-only results.

Key findings from the trial include:

The H2Pro TriSmart-only programme resulted in a significant increase in Turf Quality, % VMC (to 38mm and 76mm), and NDVI.
Tank-mixing Vitalnova SMX with H2Pro TriSmart significantly boosted Turf Quality Score beyond that achieved with H2Pro TriSmart alone (but did not affect the % VMC).
Applications of H2Pro TriSmart and Vitalnova SMX combined also resulted in a notable increase in total fungi and total microbial biomass in the rootzone.

“Our primary objective was to demonstrate the efficacy of H2Pro TriSmart in managing soil moisture levels and reducing turf stress, and to explore how Vitalnova SMX could further enhance these benefits,” stated Dr Richard Collins, ICL’s International Technical Manager for Amega Sciences. “The results clearly demonstrate the advantages of integrating these products into a turf management programme, offering significant improvements in turf quality and rootzone health.”

Richard concluded, “This trial not only underscores the potential of these treatments to improve turf performance during critical stress periods but also opens avenues for further research into sustainable turf management practices.”

Discover a wealth of information on this and other insightful ICL trials by visiting the dedicated page on the ICL website.

Please contact ICL on 01473 237100 or visit www.icl-growingsolutions.uk and icl-growingsolutions.ie if you are in Ireland.

For more news and insightful views, you can follow ICL on Twitter @ICL_Turf

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

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ABA Groundcare Celebrates 10 Years with Yamaha

April 22, 2024/in News, Press Release/by Admin

ABA Groundcare Celebrates 10 Years with Yamaha: First established in 2014, ABA Groundcare based in Tiverton, Devon celebrates 10 years of selling Yamaha’s ATV range this April. Jamie Hutchings initially set up the business following dealer changes in the area and was awarded the franchise in 2014. With a strong background selling the brand for a previous dealer, it was a no-brainer for Jamie to continue with a brand he knew and was respected in the area.

“Yamaha UK were forthcoming in working with me, it felt like they saw the opportunity to keep growing the brand in the area. We have gone from being one of the youngest dealers to now one of the older ones.” When the partnership first began, ABA Groundcare sold up to 20 ATVs per year, now the company sells over 85 units into the surrounding area. ABA Groundcare took on a bigger area in recent years following the purchase of Hayes Garden Machinery at the end of 2023. The business now operates from two locations: Tiverton, Devon and Dorchester, Dorset. “Yamaha holds a strong reputation in the area, and we will support any potential customers but most of our ATVs go to the farming community. We are confident in the brand from the product point of view but also from the back-up and after sales support we receive from Yamaha UK themselves.”

ABA Groundcare Celebrates 10 Years with Yamaha

“We at Yamaha ATV UK are delighted to have been in partnership with ABA Groundcare for the past 10 years. Jamie and his team have consistently demonstrated a deep understanding of the needs of their customers and a true passion for the Yamaha brand. Their dedication to providing exceptional service and expertise has been instrumental in the continued growth and success of Yamaha ATVs in the southwest region. We look forward to many more years of this successful partnership.” Gareth Sloane, Manager, Power Products, Yamaha UK.

Celebrations will continue at the company’s open day on Saturday 20th April. Congratulations ABA Groundcare, here’s to another 10 years.

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Half Sized Blog Element (Single Author Style)

Half Sized Blog Element (Multi Author Style)

Two ICL biostimulants prove better than one

ABA Groundcare Celebrates 10 Years with Yamaha

Two ICL biostimulants prove better than one

ABA Groundcare Celebrates 10 Years with Yamaha

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Two ICL biostimulants prove better than one

Two ICL biostimulants prove better than one: An ICL trial at St Andrews Links demonstrated that tank-mixing Vitalnova SMX with an H2Pro TriSmart programme significantly enhanced golf green turf quality and rootzone health, surpassing the improvements achieved by using TriSmart alone.

ABA Groundcare Celebrates 10 Years with Yamaha

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