Location: Aquatic Animal Health Research
Project Number: 6010-10600-002-022-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Aug 1, 2026
End Date: Sep 30, 2028
Objective:
The objective of this three-year project is to evaluate the performance and soil biological impacts of fisheries-derived microbial inoculants, fish protein hydrolysates/emulsions, and aquaculture/aquaponics effluents on intensively managed golf putting greens and fairways. Specifically, this research will quantify long-term effects on turf quality, rooting, organic matter dynamics, and microbial community structure while distinguishing nutrient-driven responses from true biostimulant effects. By integrating soil biology, turf physiology, and multi-year field data, this project will determine whether fisheries-derived products provide consistent, evidence-based agronomic benefits that justify their use in high-value golf turf systems.
Approach:
Field trials will be established on established turfgrass stands A randomized complete block design will be used at each site with four or more replications. All plots will receive a uniform baseline fertility program, with fisheries-derived materials applied as add-on treatments or equal-N comparisons. Applications will occur every 2–4 weeks during active growth.
Measurements collected across the three-year period will include turf visual quality, NDVI, clipping yield, firmness (greens), percent cover, and recovery from wear (fairways). Soil sampling will occur at baseline and annually, including organic matter and measures of soil health. Root biomass, distribution, and architecture will be quantified annually. Data will be analyzed using mixed models with time-repeated measures and multivariate community ecology approaches to link soil biology to turf outcomes.
This project will generate multi-season, field-based evidence to assess the value of fisheries-derived biostimulants for turfgrass systems and support new, sustainable markets for the fisheries and aquaculture industry.