It’s happening. All around us companies are racing to get their “New and Improved” lawn food to the market. The buzz words? Carbohydrates, Calories, Sugar. Why? What is so important about this? There are turf guys flocking to these products every day because it sounds good. Why does it sound good? I have no idea… I’d assume it’s in the marketing pieces. There isn’t a rational reason why this is a good idea because of the compounding negative effects over time. But, for someone who doesn’t understand soils or organisms or biology at all, it may sound very romantic.

These are the claims from one such product taken directly from their website:

Nutrient Package Components

• Trace minerals (derived from sea water and seaweed)
• Humics (derived from lenardite)
• Nitrogen (27% immediate, 73% slow release)
• Carbon (high energy, 5 million calories per gallon)
• Plant growth stimulants
• Advanced surfactant technology

Plant Health Benefits

• Improved Photosynthesis
• Increased Metabolism & Physiology
• Increased Maturity & Vitality
• Greater Flowering and Fruitation
• Increased Root Mass
• Increased Drought/Stress Tolerance
• Improved Immunity/Resistance

Let’s just ignore the misspelled words and go with what’s there. This is a serious company with serious claims. Firstly, can anyone tell me how it’s possible to get 5,000,000 calories in 9.5 lbs? Pure sugar contains 1,775 calories per pound; molasses contains 1,335 calories per pound, brown sugar? 1,670. Okay, so maybe we are referring to energy units here? Hard to say, fat has no energy and to burn 1 lb of fat off of your body, you require the energy from 3,500 calories. So… what’s the deal? There isn’t one. This is an instance where “sugar” is being pushed to the front to be the leader in the catalyst of this particular product. Here is another:

“Diamond Foliar Hy-Carb, is a Liquid bio-nutrient and plant

root growth accelerator with amino acids, carbohydrates (a

readily available Carbon source), hormones, and enzymes

that enhances beneficial soil microbial growth. Beneficial

soil microbes are known for assisting the plant in uptake of

mineral nutrients, breaking down thatch components, fighting

plant pathogens, and building soil structure. In addition

Hy-Carb will accelerate plant root and shoot development.

It is designed for foliar and soil applications and can be

combined with other foliar nutritional and microbial products

to enhance soil and plant health and vitality. The high sugar

levels of Hy-Carb will stimulate soil biology and vigorous

plant root growth providing SAFER, more EFFECTIVE,

and more EFFICIENT nutrient utilization. Plants receiving

added sugars have increased cell wallstrength providing a

better first line of defense against disease and insects.”

There it is again. High sugar… carbon source. Okay, clearly there is a movement happening here and it is again misguided. Plants (not soil) source their carbon from the air. Respiration is the source of the carbon that makes up all plants. Carbon for soil is very different.

Carbohydrates are the compounds, which provide energy to living cells. They are compounds of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen with a ratio of two hydrogens for every oxygen atom. The carbohydrates we use as foods have their origin in the photosynthesis of plants. They take the form of sugars, starches, and cellulose. Photosynthesis creates simple sugars. Respiration creates carbon.

Can a plant uptake sugar as a nutrient? No. no. no. So what does it do then, feed microbes? Yes, healthy and active microbes are a good thing and ultimately are what you want. But this is only truly beneficial of the microbes are feeding on real organic matter. Sugar may stimulate them momentarily, cause some nutrients to be used up that shouldn’t have been and likely manipulate soil bacteria to unhealthy levels, but as soon as the sugar is gone? It’s back to work as usual.

Many microorganisms can consume nitrogen as part of their natural life cycle. Researchers at Charles Sturt University say that feeding and encouraging these organisms to grow is one of the most effective ways to reduce nitrogen in the soil. Sugar is one potential food source for these organisms. In limited testing, researchers saw a noticeable reduction in nitrogen levels in the soil and recorded less weed infestation with the addition of sugar because of the nitrogen reduction.

That doesn’t sound good. Are we looking for a reason to eat up nitrogen? Heavens no! We want the bacteria to be capturing more N not using it up. This is the main reason people see dramatic results the first time they use a microbial or sugar based product, N gets blasted up into the plant and used too quickly. Then it’s gone. Looked good for a bit and now you have a deficit.

So let’s truly differentiate. Carbon vs Carbohydrate, the “Battle Royale”… the addition of carbon to the soil is of great benefit for long-term soil and plant health. The benefits include:

1. Slower more manageable feeding of indigenous soil life (GOOD)
2. Greater water holding capacity (GOOD)
3. Greater ability for root development (GOOD)
4. Greater nutrient holding capacity in the soil (GOOD)
5. More oxygen for soil life as decay happens (GOOD)
6. Greater surface area (GOOD)

Sugar?

1. Uses applied nutrients faster (BAD)
2. Uses stored nutrients faster (BAD)
3. Takes workers away from their jobs for a quick fix (BAD)
4. Makes the ants happy (BAD)

The bottom line? Buyer beware. There are more and more scheisters coming out of the woodwork as our economy has improved and our industry has grown. Education is power and will ultimately guide you to success.  So let’s leave the sugar for the cookies, soil has been doing this a lot longer than we have. And I’m pretty sure it has its own recipe for deliciousness.

⌘