ALBION, ID—Grigg Bros. will soon release a reformulated version of its foliar micronutrient “shotgun” Microburst designed to maximize nutrient uptake and utilization.
The new formulation has the added benefits of being totally chelated and phosphate stable.
The major changes involve the ratio of manganese (Mn) to zinc (Zn) and the addition of organically chelated magnesium (Mg), according to Grigg Bros. agronomist Gordon Kauffman, Ph.D.
Under the old formulation, Microburst consisted of 1 percent Mn and 1 percent Zn, leaving the nutrients in a 1:1 ratio.
In the new formulation, Mn comprises a larger 2.4 percent; Zn just 1 percent, and Mg 0.3 percent of the total formulation. The increased manganese means the amount of that particular micronutrient is much closer to the amount of iron (Fe), which is 3.4 percent of the new formulation.
“Iron and manganese are essential plant nutrients important for key enzyme functioning in plants, most notably photosynthesis and nitrogen assimilation,” Kauffman said. “The added magnesium plays an important role in energy (ATP) transfer and chlorophyll production, providing an enhanced color response.”
This Grigg Bros. foliar product should be applied at 2 to 6 fluid ounces per 1,000 square feet to supply essential secondary macronutrients and micronutrients in a highly efficient formulation.
Superintendents can apply it throughout the growing season on warm- and cool-season grasses. It can be tank mixed with all Grigg Bros. products.
<P?With input and testing from the country’s top turfgrass universities and researchers, brothers Gary and Mark Grigg unveiled the firm's line of foliar fertilizers in 1995. The major advantage of foliar products is the speed at which turfgrass absorbs the material through its leaves, according to Gary Grigg, the company's chief agronomist, who boasts 40 years in the turfgrass-management profession.
<P?The Griggs recognize the utility and value of both foliars and granulars, which is why they developed a line of granular, water-soluble fertilizers in 2005, under the GreenSpec brand. These high-performance, high-quality granular fertilizers provide optimum nutrient uptake ability and are available in both fairway- and greens-grade granules.