Investigation of plant protein products on turfgrass putting greens quality, playability, and establishment

Abstract With an increasing concern over negative environmental impacts of synthetic fertilizer usage and production, the turfgrass industry is investigating new fertilizer sources. Plant protein products could be used as an alternative and sustainable fertilizer source in formulations; thus, research is needed to determine their effect on turfgrass systems. Replicated field studies were conducted at the University of Florida and Iowa State University to determine if plant protein products could be utilized as a turfgrass fertilizer source on established and new putting greens. Treatments included soluble corn protein (SCP) 1, SCP 2, soluble potato protein (SPP), biofertilizer, synthetic, and non‐fertilized control. Treatments were applied every 14 days throughout the growing season at 6.1 kg N ha −1 on established putting greens and 9.8 kg N ha −1 on new putting greens. On established putting greens, minimal differences were observed with plant protein products compared to the non‐fertilized, biofertilizer, and synthetic fertilizer in terms of turfgrass quality and playability. SCP 1 and SPP resulted in 6%–8% greater normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) compared to the non‐fertilized, and SCP 1 increased NDVI by 6% relative to synthetic fertilizer. Overall, on new putting greens, all treatments resulted in 7%–13% greater percent green cover compared to the non‐fertilized. In conclusion, it appears that plant protein products have the potential to be utilized as a turfgrass fertilizer source, but the specific plant proteins and formulations may have an impact on the turfgrass response.