7/2/2013 - By Harrell's

These days, there’s a lot of buzz about the use of seaplant extract on turfgrass, which might sound a little weird.  We’ve all heard the expression “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.”  We could easily say seaplant extract will keep the doctor away. Here’s how that works.

Ascophyllum nodosum seaplant extract acts as a biostimulant. By applying seaplant extract before the peak of stress and during periods of stress, you are ensuring your turf has the antioxidants it needs to be prepared for the worst. The overall result is a boosted defense system,  carbohydrate reserves for the turf and some peace of mind for the turfgrass manager. Ascophyllum nodosum seaplant extract contains high levels of beneficial cytokinins, the growth hormone responsible for cell division and root growth. Independent university research has shown that supplementing turf with seaplant extract provides turfgrass the following benefits:

• Plant physiological fitness
• Plant photosynthetic efficiency
• Chlorophyll content
• Plant antioxidant levels
• Cell wall strength
• Stress tolerance
• Disease resistance
• Drought tolerance
• Salinity stress
• Root mass and length

Cytokinins also act as chemical signals that stimulate production of antioxidants in plant cells. Recent published results from Virginia Tech showed that treatment with seaplant extract increased the activity of the important antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase. These antioxidant enzymes protect cellular components from being oxidized by reactive oxygen species which are triggered by drought, injury, nutrient deficiencies, photoinhibition and temperature extremes, thus alleviating the decline of turfgrass quality, photochemical efficiency, and root viability under heat stress.

Products in the Harrell’s Bio-MAXline all contain the highest quality, cold-processed seaplant extract. Think of it as personal training for professional turf.