Compost Tea Application to Athletic Field Turf for the Improvement of Turf Quality, West Islip School District, West Islip, NY

Abstract

Compost tea has gained popularity in recent years as an amendment to be used in the growth and management of all types of horticultural and agricultural plants. Compost tea is a compost extract brewed with a microbial food source. The compost-tea brewing technique is an aerobic process that encourages the growth of populations of beneficial microorganisms. Claims by tea producers include significant fertilizing effects, disease management, and overall increased plant vigor with the regular use of compost teas. In an effort to find ways to improve the health and quality of athletic field turfgrass, this study was designed to compare compost tea application to no application in IPM managed turfgrass. The compost tea used is commercially available from Earthworks Natural Organic Products (Martins Creek, PA) and brewed and applied by the distributor/collaborator, Maxwell Turf (Jericho, NY).