Pushing the Boundaries of Turf Performance. Fiata Stressgard – Much More Than Just Pigment…
Turf managers have long sought products that enhance turf colour and performance while also improving plant health beyond nutritional inputs. One such product that has seen a rise in recent years is pigment. Most pigments deliver on the promise of immediate turf colour and protection from UV light, and that is where the story ends.
Fiata Stressgard, the first bio-stimulant from Envu, is proven to deliver on much more! Offering tangible agronomic benefits that go beyond surface-level aesthetics, turf managers now have unrestricted access to a technology that offers a proven bio-stimulant alongside Stressgard Formulation Technology, a proprietary formulation containing turf pigment, plant health-promoting compounds and other co-formulants.
True Plant Health Benefits
Unlike traditional turf pigments that primarily mask deficiencies and enhance visual appeal, Fiata Stressgard delivers true plant health benefits. Independent trials have demonstrated increased chlorophyll, photosynthesis, improved drought survival and recovery, and stronger overall turf health and performance. The unique Stressgard formulation enhances and protects chlorophyll, leading to deeper, more sustainable turf colour, performance and resilience.
New Independent Trial Data Supports the Benefits
Recent trials with STRI confirm the ability of Fiata Stressgard to improve turf health beyond just colour enhancement:
STRI (2024) Summer Stress Trial: Data from an independent STRI trial showed that Fiata Stressgard significantly increased chlorophyll index compared to untreated turf and turf treated with pigment alone. Applications at both 15 and 20 L/ha resulted in measurable improvements in photosynthetic capacity and overall turf quality in both drought and irrigated conditions (Figure 1). This directly translated into turf better managing stress from drought, heat, and traffic also resulting in greater recovery from stress.
Interestingly, research conducted at Rutgers University in 2003 already demonstrated the long-term benefits of Stressgard technology (Figure 2). Turf treated with Stressgard showed higher chlorophyll content under heat stress, maintaining better plant health over time. This reinforces the concept that Stressgard actively enhances photosynthesis and stress tolerance.
Performance Under Drought and Heat Stress
Fiata Stressgard was shown to help turf not only survive but also maintain playability and aesthetics under drought and heat stress (Figure 3). During the trials with STRI, turf treated with Fiata Stressgard outperformed untreated plots and those maintained with a surfactant programme alone. The best approach was to use surfactants before and after drought conditions while applying Fiata Stressgard before and during the drought period itself. This strategic approach helped sustain turf quality and facilitated faster, healthier recovery.
Synergy with Growth Regulators
Another key finding from the trial is the synergy between Fiata Stressgard and the plant growth regulator (PGR), Trinexapac-ethyl. While some PGR alone can cause temporary reductions in turf colour and quality, combining PGR in the tank with Fiata Stressgard was shown to mitigate these negative effects and enhance overall plant health. This combination ensures stress reduction and improved chlorophyll protection under both challenging and good turf conditions.
Trial Summary
The STRI summarised “The standout treatment in this trial was Fiata Stressgard + Trinexapac-ethyl with turf health improving quicker and to a higher level in these plots. Fiata Stressgard alone also performed well with strong improvements during the recovery phase of the trial. Other treatments performed well but did not achieve the same level as these two treatments.”
Considerations for Application
The trials show that both 15 and 20 L/ha application rates have their place, depending on turf management goals. Lower rates provide strong agronomic benefits with a natural colour enhancement, while higher rates deliver a deeper colour alongside enhanced stress tolerance. Turf managers can adjust rates based on seasonal conditions and stress severity. Interestingly, the trials showed that when combined with Trinexapac-ethyl, Fiata Stressgard was as effective at 15 l/ha than applied alone at 20 l/ha despite the PGR alone having no effect on average turf quality, further evidence of their synergy when used together.
More than a pigment, much more than a bio-stimulant!
While traditional pigments and plant health products may provide a visual boost, they do not necessarily improve underlying turf health. For many years, our trials confirm that standard pigments can mask deficiencies without increasing true plant health, chlorophyll or photosynthesis. By contrast, Stressgard products, including new Fiata Stressgard, enhance physiological plant health, ensuring stronger, healthier turf under all conditions.
With a full launch planned for 2025, including regional seminars, webinars, and dedicated support from Origin Amenity Solutions, Fiata Stressgard is set to become an essential tool for UK turf managers. This summer presents the perfect opportunity to incorporate Fiata Stressgard into your turf management programme and experience firsthand how it goes beyond colour to deliver genuine plant health benefits—proven and backed up by 20 years of research.
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