Biostimulants in the Production of Forage Grasses and Turfgrasses

Abstract

Biostimulants are becoming more prevalent in the production of forage and turfgrasses. Many can be classified as natural biostimulants, including humic acids (HA), fulvic acids (FA), protein hydrolysates (PHs) and seaweed extracts (SWE), in addition to chitosan, silicon, inorganic compounds, beneficial fungi, bacteria and synthetic biostimulants. The article reviews recent research on the effects of biostimulants in the cultivation of forage grasses (perennial ryegrass, annual ryegrass, Festulolium, Kentucky bluegrass, annual bluegrass, orchard grass and timothy-grass) and turfgrasses (perennial ryegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, red fescue and creeping bentgrass). Literature analysis suggests that biostimulants enhance the quality of grasses, augment their tolerance to environmental stresses, facilitate nutrient uptake and improve the visual aspect of grasses. While biostimulants cannot replace fertilisers, they can significantly improve crop effectiveness in utilising the nutrients present in the fertilisers. This paper also briefly describes the legal and regulatory status of biostimulants with a focus on the EU and PL.