Russell Kenison

Testimonials

Sod farm in Nevada

Soil depletion a problem?

Sod farmer Russell Kenison is taking a proactive approach

Winnemucca, NV. – When Russell first started in the sod farm business in 1985, they could plant seed and harvest it within three or four months. Over the years, the soil has become depleted to the extent that it took about a year and a half before there was enough root base established in order to market the product. Over the years he has used sulfur fertilizers to counteract the salts in the soil.

“We worked the ground really hard in those first years, and within two or three years, we didn’t have the option (of earlier harvest), because we took out whatever was in there to make it happen. The lack of biologicals being present was probably the biggest reason; we took so much of them out that they went dormant on us.”

Then a couple of seasons ago he heard about applying a microbial blend of nutrients (from Bactifeed Soil Systems) to his sod via injection into the sprinkler system. He signed up on their program and says, “I have a lot more root now than I used to have.”

“When I make 1/2” to 3/4” cut (harvest) I take 5/16” of dirt, so the rest has to be root. You can take a piece of the sod and shake it; there is very little dirt that falls out – but you’ll notice there is a lot of root. That’s what BACTIFEED has done for me – by assisting the soil so the plant will root like it’s supposed to. If it doesn’t root, then I can’t cut it, because I don’t net (a lot of turf farms apply netting, to keep the cut together when there is considerable dirt involved).

The bottom line for Northern Nevada Turf Farm is a reduction in the amount of fertilizer applied and “a whole lot more growth.” Russell is happy with the BACTIFEED approach and says, “This stuff is bringing us back. I think by next year, we’ll be able to harvest within a year and get back to the program that we were on before, because it is helping the soil so much. “

Their soil depletion has been put in reverse, and he’s gaining back the soil condition needed for optimum sod production.

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