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. 2025 Feb 24;15(1):6607.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-90862-y.

The impact of an amino acid-humus preparation on lawn boning value

Adam Radkowski  1 , Iwona Radkowska  2 , Karen Khachatryan  3 , Michał Kozdęba  4 , Henryk Bujak  5   6 , Karol Wolski  7
Affiliations

The impact of an amino acid-humus preparation on lawn boning value

Adam Radkowski et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

The application of biostimulants in fertilisation has been shown to enhance plant metabolism, stimulate physiological processes, and mitigate adverse environmental and pathogenic stresses. This study, conducted at the Agricultural University of Krakow (2021-2023), evaluated the efficacy of a foliar amino acid preparation enriched with humic acids (L-Amino + ® Humus) on turf quality. Four experimental variants were established: an untreated control (Variant I) and three treated plots sprayed with the biostimulant at 1.0 (Variant II), 2.0 (Variant III), and 3.0 L ha-1 (Variant IV). Higher application rates (Variants III and IV) significantly improved aesthetic turf quality and reduced fungal disease incidence. Compared to the control, Variant IV (3.0 L ha-1) decreased snow mould (Microdochium nivale) infections by 8% and brown spot (Rhizoctonia solani) prevalence by 12%. Variant III (2.0 L ha-1) also demonstrated positive effects, with 6% and 8% reductions in snow mould and brown spot, respectively. Furthermore, the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and leaf greenness index (SPAD) chlorophyll meter values increased by 6% and 8%, respectively, in Variant IV relative to the control, indicating enhanced leaf greenness and photosynthetic efficiency. Nutrient analysis revealed that Variants III and IV significantly elevated macro- and micronutrient concentrations (e.g., nitrogen, potassium, iron) in plant biomass compared to the control. In contrast, Variant II (1.0 L ha-1) showed no statistically significant improvements in nutrient content or disease resistance. These findings suggest that L-Amino + ® Humus at doses of 2.0-3.0 L ha-1 enhances turf quality, bolsters resistance to fungal pathogens, and improves nutrient assimilation. Lower doses (1.0 L ha-1), however, were ineffective under the tested conditions. The study underscores the dose-dependent efficacy of biostimulants in sustainable turf management.

Keywords: Amino acids; Humic acids; Lawn; Vegetation indices.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
NDVI index for options variants I, II, III, and IV.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
LAI index for options variants I, II, III, and IV.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
SPAD index for options variants I, II, III, and IV.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. Radkowski, A., Radkowska, I., Bocianowski, J., Sladkovska, T. & Wolski, K. The effect of foliar application of an amino acid-based biostimulant on lawn functional value. Agronomy10, 1656 (2020).
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    1. Emmons, R. & Rossi, F. Turfgrass science and management 5th edn. (Cengage Learn, 2015).
    1. Radkowski, A., Radkowska, I., Wolski, K., Sobol, Ł & Bujak, H. Lawn bonitation value as a function of glycine-complexed iron formulation application. Appl. Sci.12, 12102 (2022).

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