General Information on Wetting Agents
For many years wetting agents have played a major role in water management programs on sports turf such as golf and bowling greens for many years.Wetting agents or soil surfactants work by lowering the surface tension of water enabling the water to move and penetrate into the root zone or soil where it is most needed.During times of drought, the lack of water and heat stress can have an adverse affect on the soil causing it to become hydrophobic (water repellent). When the soil become hydrophobic the soil particles become coated with a waxy substance which repel water and cause dry patch.When dry patch occurs it becomes very difficult to effectively re-wet the soil with artificial watering or irrigation. In many cases the soil will only recover properly once there is significant rainfall during the autumn and winter.However by using a wetting agent during drought and dry weather you can help combat dry patch in the lawn. Wetting agents help breakdown the waxy coatings on the soil particles enabling the water to penetrate into and move through the soil profile to the grass roots.
Formulation and application of wetting agents
There are numerourous formulations and different of applying a wetting agent to lawns and turf, each have advantages and disadvantages.
- Liquid wetting agents are widely used in the sports turf industry on golf greens, bowling greens and sports pitches. These products are applied through a sprayer (most commonly a knapsack or vehicle mounted) on to the turf. emergency alert response system Riegelsville PA . This is a very efficient application method ideal for treating large areas quickly and easily. Several years ago liquid wetting agents required some from of irrigation following application, however many of the more modern products require none.
- Wetting agents tablets are available to be applied with a hose end applicator. Cheap Insurance Quotes Van . The tablet is placed in a canister and the water dissolves the tablet applying the wetting agent on the the turf. phlebotomy certification . This method is ideal for spot treating problem areas such as high spots and areas prone to dry patch.
- Granular wetting agents are also available and can be spread over the lawn and worked into the ground, often when aeration has taken place.
When to apply a wetting agent
Ideally apply a wetting agent before the soil becomes too dry at the start of the dry spell for the best results, especially to localised areas that have shown signs of dry patch in the past.However wetting agents can still be very helpful to re-wet soils that have already become dry and hydrophobic.Greenkeepers apply these products at the start of the season before dry patch is a problem and they may re-apply them on a regular basis throughout the summer as part of their water management program
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