Turf Grass / Research

Texas Tech Turf Research | The Rawls Golf Course, Lubbock, TX


A Replicated Completely Randomized Block Design (CRBD) research study, was conducted by Dr. Joey Young, assistant professor of turfgrass science at Texas Tech University on The Rawls Golf Course in Lubbock, TX in 2016 on an established “TifSport” hybrid Bermuda grass fairway. All plots received soluble fertilizer (20-5-25) at 1 lb/1,000 ft2 and PolyonTM (CR 20-0-20) at 1 lb/1,000 ft2 in early spring. The control plots received no other fertilizer through the growing season. The fertilizer-only plots received Contec DGTM (18-9-18) at 1 lb/1,000 ft2 in early June, and the AZOMITE® plots received the same rate of Contec DG plus 1.2 lb/1,000 ft2 of AZOMITE or 2.4 lb/1,000 ft2 of AZOMITE® at the same time. Soil tests and clipping analysis were conducted several times during the season. Visual turf ratings, light box digital imagery and NDVI instrument readings were used to produce ratio vegetation index (RVI) and spectral reflectance data. At the end of the season, root cores were taken from each plot and washed and dried —
at which point longest root measurements and root mass were recorded.
Click image or download study for in-depth results » 

Benefits at a Glance:

  1. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) on October 10 for the AZOMITE® plots had significantly higher NDVI than Contec DG alone or the untreated control plots.
  2. The spectral analysis from RapidScan CS-45 ratio vegetation index (RVI) was statistically different for the lower rate of AZOMITE compared to the untreated control.
  3. Six of the 11 elements in tissue tests were higher in the high rate of AZOMITE® compared to the fertilizer-only plots
  4. All 25 elements tested in the soil showed an increase in the AZOMITE® plots (pH stayed the same) in July.
  5. 12 elements tested in the soil showed an increase in the AZOMITE® plots in November.