May 2008

Montgomery County greens going green

by Matt Myers

Montgomery County golf courses are becoming more environmentally friendly as they switch to a “green” fertilizer, according to the Montgomery County Revenue Authority.

The new fertilizer used, Microstar60, is organic and produced by Perdue’s AgriRecycle and uses a time release mechanism to supply fields with nutrients while encouraging microorganisms to decrease the use of pesticides. The new fertilizer will have the ability to hold water better, causing for a decrease in potential runoff.

“Our product stays in the soil until the microorganisms break it down,” Tom Ferguson, Director of Sales and Marketing for Perdue Fertilizer Products said.

Other forms of fertilizer are all nitrogen water-soluble while Microstar60 is only half water soluble, allowing for nutrients to stay in the golf course even during downpours.

Initial cost is a fear for prospective buyers but Perdue claims the long-term benefits will supercede them. The cheaper bio-solids may lead to inefficient soils, hindering the production of the crop or field.

After one year, courses that use the new environmentally friendly fertilizers will recoup the extra money spent for it since bio-solids are easily washed away by rain. The rain over the course of a year causes maintenance crews to lay more of a cheaper fertilizer down which will end up costing more over the long haul, according to Ferguson.

Excess nitrogen that enters local waterways can lead to killing of fish or decrease in biodiversity due to the formation of algae blooms which blocks sunlight from enter the bottom of the water.

Microstar60 also offers less fear for golfers who like to play barefoot, which is common in some golfers. Walking barefoot on the new fertilizer would be just like walking on a farm pasture instead of a manure field, Ferguson said.

The new fertilizer that plans to be used in the Montgomery County golf courses offer a more environmentally consciousness to the area courses.

“PPM offers the nitrogen necessary for improved turf vigor and nutrients that are important for plant development and sustainability,” MCRA’s Director of Agronomy, Jon Lobenstine said in a press release.

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