Horticultural Trials |
Three Root Biomass and Bacterial Count Trials
using Humate and Viresco
Southampton FC
During the football season 1999/2000, a trial was conducted at The Dell, the ground of Southampton FC using Humates and Viresco to see their effect on root biomass and bacterial counts.
This trial started in October 1999 and lasted for about 10 months. Three separate trials were conducted. The first looked at the application of Humate granular and Humate liquid on their own. The second involved Viresco™ micro-organism products on their own. The third trial considered both the Humate and the Viresco™ microbial products. All three programmes increased bacterial counts and root biomass. However, the effect of the combined Humate and Viresco™ programme was much more significant than either the Humate or Viresco™ programme on its own.
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Bacterial counts more than
doubled in the first month and root biomass more than doubled
within three months compared with the control plots. These improvements
were maintained throughout the period of the study. These results
are shown on the adjacent two graphs
It is worth mentioning that the root biomass checks were done on soil cores 1" in diameter and 2.5 inches deep. The actual root biomass with the Humate and Viresco™ programmes would most likely be deeper than this and would, therefore, indicate an even larger increase. |
This study demonstrates once again the significant improvements in microbial activity and plant root biomass that are typical of the joint Humate and Viresco™ programme.
The resulting microbial population is not only more active, it is more diverse with significantly increased competition in the plant rhizosphere. The result is a more efficient, balanced soil environment. Furthermore, the turf is healthier and more resistant to pathogens and other stresses and require significantly reduced nutrient and chemical inputs.