Between 2016 – 2019, Aqua Aid Europe has been performing various field trials to see the water saving benefits in of multi-branched surfactants in turf grass, especially PBS150. Penn State University has proven considerable reduction in different conditions in 2 projects. Following these trials, Secret Valley Golf Resort on Cyprus, has used PBS150 to combat a lack of water caused by climate change. Want to know how? READ ON
Late summer and early fall is a great time of year to use VerdeCal G. VerdeCal G can offer some relief by releasing calcium and thus, conditioning the soil and making other nutrients available. These newly available nutrients can offer your turf some of the relief it needs at a time when it may need it most. It is really about the volume of calcium. By releasing “real pounds” of calcium into the soil structure - in various forms, thorough conditioning of the soil can occur. This may be visually seen as green up, growth, rooting, stress reduction, and perhaps even some disease relief. We do not claim VerdeCal G will cure disease, but feedback certainly tells us that the benefit of available calcium can make a difference. Remember, better uptake and translocation of nutrients and water will always benefit the turf and allow the turf to withstand stresses better.
The Secret Valley Golf Resort in Cyprus, managed by Troon Golf, has used PBS150 from Aqua Aid Europe to combat a lack of water caused by climate change.
Cyprus is one of the hottest countries in Europe and has average temperatures nearing 30°C from June to September. During this time the average rainfall is 0mm with a small reprieve in September when it rises to 3mm.
Recently, rain during the winter months has reduced, leading to reductions in water around the island. This has caused Golf Course Superintendent, Derek Smith, to focus on methods of reducing hydrophobic conditions on the course.
Derek’s employment history has seen him work in warm climates before when at Palmares Golf Resort, Portugal, Alcanda Golf Course, Majorca and The Wave Golf Course, Oman, but a lack of water to manage heat, similar to what was experienced in the United Kingdom in the summer of 2018, was a challenge he had to address quickly.
Derek explained: “Due to climate changes the winters have changed in Cyprus with less and less rainfall falling. The dams are running at under 30% and they are our only source of water, so reductions from the water authorities have left us struggling for water.
“I have always been very water efficient as I truly understand how this is affecting the turf industry. Because we could not spend the value of water in our budget due to the cuts, we decided to use some of that money to help the plant in other ways. One by using a high-quality wetting agent and another by using growth retardants.
“We had already started using OARS HS and from my experience using them, I trust Aqua Aid products and their longevity. After meeting a representative from Aqua Aid Europe and explaining our issues it was decided that we’d try PBS150. We applied it once in the middle of May and during the summer months we saw a water reduction of around 30% and I’ve seen a much better sward density and far, far less isolated hydrophobic areas.
“For us, saving water is beneficial enough, but by not having to spot water we have reduced labour costs. I also hope that by using PBS150 we can work on our very poor river silt soil and turn it into a healthier environment.”
PBS150, or polyfunctional branched surfactant to use its full name, utilises multi-branched molecular technology to address the source of performance loss – biodegradation of the surfactant molecule by soil microbes.
It is designed to reduce hydrophobic conditions on a sustainable basis for five months or more, encouraging a pattern of hydration and re-hydration that improves the amount of available water in the soil profile to meet the metabolic demands of the plant. The 3D Multibranched technology helps to even-out moisture difference in multiple directions, providing a great tool to give more control over moisture conditions.
By doing this the uniform movement of water into and through the soil matrix is restored and the stress tolerance is improved along with the turf quality and colour.
To find out more about PBS150, click here.