Growth and Quality Changes of Creeping Bentgrass by Application of Keratin Amino Acid Fertilizer

Abstract

Amino acids in the plant were intermediate metabolites which produced by uptake and assimilation of nitrogen and these extracts which gained by bio-chemical digestion from protein of plant or animal were a source of functional fertilizer. This study was conducted to evaluate effects of keratin amino acid fertilizer (KAF) gained from animal hair or hoof on changes of turfgrass quality and growth by investigating turf color index, chlorophyll index, shoot number, clipping yield, and nutrient content in the turfgrass tissue. Treatments were designed as follows; non-fertilizer (NF), compound fertilizer (CF), keratin amino acid fertilizer treatments [CF + KAF 0.26 ml m −2 (CKF), CF + KAF 0.52 ml m −2 (2CKF)], and only keratin amino acid fertilizer treatment (KF). Shoot number, clipping yield, and nitrogen uptake of KF were higher than those of CF. As compared with CF, soil chemical properties, turf color index, chlorophyll index and clipping yield of keratin amino acid fertilizer were not significant, but shoot number and uptake of N and K were increased significantly. These results show that the application of keratin amino acid fertilizer increased shoot number and growth by increased uptake of nitrogen and potassium.