Evaluation of Creeping Bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.) Responses to an Amino Acid Co-Product.

Lysine, an essential amino acid that acts as a building block in protein synthesis, is a biochemical precursor of acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) and glutamine in most organisms. Lysine is a limiting factor in maize and soybean diets of swine, so there is a need to produce it industrially. As a result of the fermentation production process, a liquid nitrogen-containing byproduct is co-produced. Due to its nutrient content and trace amounts of amino acids, this lysine byproduct (Ly-B) could potentially be used as a growth promoter for turfgrass. The objective of this research was to determine whether applications of Ly-B improve 007 creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.) performance more than applications of urea. Creeping bentgrass plugs were transplanted into custom made root tubes and allowed to re-establish in a greenhouse before being treated. Treatments were applied on 14 day intervals at four different rates. Application rates were based on the amount of nitrogen applied (12.21, 24.41, 36.62, and 48.82 kilograms nitrogen/hectare). At trial’s end (10 weeks), plant parts were harvested and used for analysis. Compared to applications of urea, Ly-B treatments showed a linear relationship between both above-ground shoot weight and shoot length, with that of nitrogen rate. Urea treatments appeared to peak and then drop off as the rate continued to increase. According to the results, creeping bentgrass treated with Ly-B can result in increased turfgrass performance compared to applications of urea, and that response is rate-dependent.