A 2004 study at Ohio State University showed that a soil surfactant helped to reduce water
waste lost to run-off by nearly 20%
ate more uniformity at and below the surface.
"It is important to evenly distribute
water through the soil profile to provide adequate hydration for the plants," he said.
When it comes to creating safe playing
conditions, uniformity is key. Patchy or uneven turf growth can create a hazard for
athletes. By helping to balance air and
water in the rootzone, soil surfactants encourage more uniform root growth and
more consistency on the surface.
Soil surfactants can also help to reduce
the amount of water lost to run-off, which
is critical for turf managers who are dealing
with water-use restrictions. By cutting back
on waste and making more efficient use of
applied water, soil surfactants can produce
monetary savings and potentially stretch the
time between irrigation events.
Because most soil surfactants can be
tank mixed with a wide variety of other
inputs, there is no added labor cost involved. Turf managers can simply add the
soil surfactant to their regular spray program. Smith cited this ease of use another
bonus of his surfactant program. "Being
on a two-week spray schedule made it
very easy to apply surfactant on a regular
basis," he said.
surfactants can help turf recover from existing drought damage, instituting a
proven surfactant program before drought
conditions develop can provide a number
of benefits.
By increasing soil moisture uniformity,
soil surfactants help to create a healthier
and more consistent growing environment.
If the growing environment is managed to
its peak potential early in the season, turf
will be healthier and better able to defend
itself when drought stress kicks in. In addition, water and monetary savings produced
early in the season can be banked for the
late summer months when the need for frequent irrigation becomes greater.
Seasons like 2012 remind us that we are
often at the whim of unpredictable weather
conditions. While a repeat of last year's historic drought isn't guaranteed, turf managers should be prepared for another
difficult season in 2013. By maximizing
water use efficiency, soil surfactants can
help turf managers offset the physical and
financial strain of a drought year and ensure
safer playing conditions for all athletes. The
key is to start early. n
GETTING A HEAD START
The key to any successful surfactant
program is to start early. Although soil
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