First results of the test on sports turf with the biostimulant Ficosturf

Last January (2019), Ficosterra signed a collaboration agreement with the Madrid Institute for Rural, Agricultural and Food Research and Development (IMIDRA) to measure the effects of the ficosturf liquid biostimulant within the prairie crop cycle.

Here are some details that we will discuss in detail on November 20, at 4:00 pm in the framework of the 41st Annual Greenkeepers Congress (Almería, Spain).

IMIDRA was created in 1997 by the Community of Madrid (Spain) in order to collaborate with other public or private entities to, among other purposes, “promote, coordinate, and carry out research projects related to the primary sector in order to find the creation or adaptation of the most appropriate and environmentally friendly technologies. ”

This institution provides to Ficosterra the machinery and labor necessary to facilitate the maintenance of the experimental structure for the development and planting of plots, as well as the conservation work and adaptation to the needs of this research (product application, irrigation dosage, mowing, etc.), taking the necessary samples for further study and assessment.

First trial data: Nobember 2019

Ficosterra chose this prestigious institution to carry out a test that measured the effectiveness of its Biological Crop Booster technology of the algae biostimulant and bio-regenerative microorganims of ficosturf

The study began last May in one of the plots of grass for sports use (on sandy substrates) that IMIDRA owns in Madrid ( the El Encín farm, de Alcalá de Henares) and is directed and coordinated by Dr. José Fernando Marin Peira, Designer and Test Coordinator; Dr. Pedro V. Mauri Ablanque, director of the Department of Agro-Environmental Research of IMIDRA; and Dr. Salima Yousfi, the researcher within the Xerocésped operating group.

This research project is being carried out on a total area of ​​605 m: 350 m  with the application of the ficosturf product on the Agrostis Tee-One (T1) every 51 days in doses on Green of 3.5Lts of ficosturf diluted in 50 Lts. of water without chlorine.

Since May, samples have been conducted with:

1. Aerial photographs
2. NDVI through GreenSeeker to know the vegetative development of plants
3. Sampling wiht a punch and taking pictures for root growth measurements (se pictures below)
4. Microbial activity analysis

As of today we can tell you that the microbial activity of the soil has increased significantly and that, as a result of this and in view of the photographs shown below, the biostimulant ficosturf acted very favorably on the roots of the treated surface, achieving a greater length (13 cms. compared to almost 8 cms. in the untreated) and a higher root density, parameters that make the crop (in this case the lawn) have an easier access to the nutritive elements of the soil, increase, consequently, its implantation capacity and withstand better possible water stress, significantly facilitating the maintenance of the green.

November 2019 Finca El Encín, facilities of the Madrid Institute for Rural, Agrarian, and Food Research and Development (IMIDRA)

We still do not have the NDVI images of the trial, but everything suggests that we will find a faithful cultivation surface reflecting what we visualize in the images of its roots.

We will know the final data of this trial and its parameters at the end of December 2019, when all the studies are finished, at which time Ficosterra will make them available to its clients and followers through the Web and social networks.