Numerous independent university tests have proven grass seed enhanced with Yellow Jacket technology greatly outperforms raw seed.
Now, after several years on the market, Yellow Jacket has proven itself a key to successfully establishing turf by our customers in some of the most demanding applications. Yellow Jacket can be found on all major cool and warm season grass seed species including tall fescue, perennial ryegrass, annual ryegrass, bentgrass, Kentucky bluegrass and Bermudagrass.
Establishment Of Coated vs. Uncoated Seed New Mexico State University
Barenbrug and Dr. Bernd Lienauer of New Mexico State conducted two extensive studies evaluating both coated and uncoated seed. The trials utilized two moisture regimes:
98% of evapotranspiration (ET) and 56% of ET. At conclusion, the tudies indicated Yellow Jacket enhanced seed established faster and maintained a high turf quality when compared to uncoated seed.
Fungicide Stability On Coated Seed The Ohio State University
Ohio State’s Pam Sherratt conducted trials with multiple grass seed coatings. Findings showed the Yellow Jacket process providing multiple advantages, even on faster establishing species, including Perennial ryegrass and turf-annual ryegrass. Particularly notable was the improved performance of coated fungicide when combined in the Yellow Jacket process. The systemic fungicide was held readily available to the newly emerged roots and quickly provided fungicidal disease protection. Yellow Jacket Enhanced seedlings quickly developed a strong, healthy root system with faster plant establishment. Currently Yellow Jacket contains the proven systemic fungicide, Apron XL ( ai. Mefenoxim ).
Yellow Jacket Coating Field Study North Carolina State University
In a field study conducted under ‘ideal establishment’ conditions, North Carolina State evaluated both Yellow Jacket enhanced seed and uncoated seed. Featuring germination blankets and ample water, little difference was noted during establishment between the two products. However, the unanticipated value of the Yellow Jacket enhanced seed proved itself in subsequent months. Most all coated entries exhibited superior turf ratings and disease performance a full year after seeding. When averaged over two summers, disease ratings on coated seed outperformed untreated seed. The value of strong establishment once again provided long term turf quality and performance.
Several key benefits of Yellow Jacket coating were identified :
- After full establishment, yellow jacket seeded turf exhibited improved overall turf quality with reduced disease symptoms over several months of rating
- Coating significantly improved density on 8/27 and 9/24 observation dates
- Coating treatments improved disease ratings when averaged over two summer ratings dates
- Coating treatments significantly improved turfgrass quality when averaged over seven rating dates
Controlled Environment Study North Carolina State University
With germination and establishment trials performed in a Phytotron controlled environment facility at North Carolina State, both Yellow Jacket enhanced seeds and uncoated seeds were evaluated at different moisture levels. Under limited moisture conditions, Yellow Jacket enhanced seed significantly outperformed uncoated seed when evaluated 28 days after seeding. Percent of germination virtually doubled with Yellow Jacket enhanced seed.
Germination Under Saline Conditions New Mexico State University
A study was conducted at New Mexico State using a strong saline concentration to determine germination rates. Conducted using AOSA rules for seed testing, a solution of 18,000 ppm was used on four different turf species with germination percentages measured at 30 days after planting. Most importantly the Yellow Jacket coating was unaffected by the high salt concentration with three of the four coated species performing better than the raw seed.