SportsTurf provides current, practical and technical content on issues relevant to sports turf managers, including facilities managers. Most readers are athletic field managers from the professional level through parks and recreation, universities.
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/34725
McMillan: There are numerous soil surfactants on the mar- ket today. Certain chemistries are better wetters—helping to re- store wettability to water repellent thatch and soil; some are better at helping water to infiltrate more effectively. Know what your needs are when purchasing one, and be a wise buyer. • Do you need a surfactant to alleviate soil water repellency symptoms curatively or preventatively? Then make sure you choose a wetting agent type of soil surfactant which is designed to do what you need. • Do you need a surfactant primarily to reduce surface runoff? Then a penetrant type soil surfactant is what you need. • Do you need a surfactant to maximize benefits of fertilizers or pesticides? Select a product where there is evidence of effectiveness for that use. • Another question is how the surfactant will be applied. Sprayer or injected – or dry? Different kinds of formulations exist to fit your needs – and it is important to use the formulation de- signed for your use. • Some surfactants can be phytotoxic, particularly older chemistries. So make sure phytotoxicity testing has been done on your turfgrass type. Bottom line, know what you need and ask questions to make sure you get it. Work with distributors that have a good knowl- edge of the surfactant chemistries they are selling and make sure that there is university research to support claims. The timing of your turf manage- ment program can also be a factor. ST: Is how much to use always related to square feet being cov- ered or is there any other factor? McMillan: As with all turf management products, label rates should always be used when applying soil surfactant materials. These are the rates that have been found to be effective via exten- sive testing to perform as marketed. Because the severity of the water management problem you are addressing can vary, the type and rate of soil surfactant can also vary. The timing of your turf management program can also be a factor. So in addition to square feet being covered being a factor, the depth and severity of the water distribution problem and how long you need a treat- ment to last are also factors in soil surfactant selection and rate recommendation. ST: Do you recommend any specific type or brand of sprayer equipment that is better to use when employing surfactants? McMillan: I do not recommend any particular sprayer or brand for surfactant use. However, I do recommend that when purchasing a surfactant, be clear on how it will be applied. Some surfactants can be very viscous so should not be applied via injec- tion into the irrigation system. If the soil surfactant is to be ap- plied through spray application, remember that the target is not only the surface, but also into the soil, so use a nozzle and water volume that is suited to soil applied materials. ■ www.stma.org SportsTurf 41