Surfactants – Their Role in Spring Recovery

Introduction

As we prepare for a new growing season, it is essential to reflect on last year’s weather conditions and the impact on managing fine turf surfaces this spring. Turf managers have had to adapt to increasingly mild and wet conditions, punctuated by occasional hot, dry summers. Over the past 18 months, prolonged periods of overcast, rainy weather have dominated, making last summer the coolest since 2015. Additionally, a milder-than-average winter has brought unsettled conditions, including rain, wind, and wintry showers across the country.

These conditions have led to saturated ground, course closures, and challenges in protecting fine turf surfaces from damage over wet winter months. As we move into spring, there is optimism for more favourable weather, with hopefully drier and warmer conditions allowing us to better enjoy outdoor sport. Adopting appropriate turf management strategies over the next few months can facilitate a smoother transition from winter to summer playing surfaces.

The Impact of Dry Patch and Fungal Activity

Cycling between wet and dry soil conditions, especially following an extended period of wet weather, increases the risk of dry patch in fine turf. Additionally, soil fungi, such as basidiomycete responsible for Fairy Ring activity, remain dormant under wet conditions but become active as temperatures rise. Identifying symptoms early and implementing effective treatments can help mitigate these challenges.

Understanding Dry Patch

Dry patch, also known as water repellency, localised dry patch, or hydrophobicity, occurs when soil or thatch repels water rather than absorbing it uniformly. If untreated, particularly on closely mown turf such as greens, it leads to uneven turf growth, inconsistent ball roll, and irregular responses to rainfall, irrigation, and fertiliser inputs.

Uniform soil moisture is crucial for turf health, as it ensures the efficient uptake of water and nutrients through the root system. When water repellency disrupts moisture distribution, it also affects nutrient absorption, reducing the effectiveness of fertilisers and other inputs. Maintaining consistent soil profile hydration is the foundation for high quality, resilient playing surfaces.

Water repellency can occur at the immediate surface as well as within the soil profile.

Impact of Dry Patch on Water Movement

Spring recovery of turf surfaces comprised of mixed swards containing annual meadow grass, bent and fescue, will tend to lack uniformity in spring as the different grass species respond to warming soil temperatures at different rates. It is always worth checking that soil moisture levels are consistent and that dry patch is not an additional factor contributing to lack of turf surface uniformity.

Dry patch impacts water movement in two ways. Firstly, water movement into the soil is prevented, with water sitting on top and evaporating or running-off onto lower lying ground. Secondly, below the surface, dry patch can also disrupt water’s ability to move freely through the rootzone. This results in uneven distribution of water, and indeed anything it carries with it, and can also lead to preferential flow patterns where the water takes the “easy way” through the soil, straight down past the roots.

Identical irrigation inputs on a golf green suffering from dry patch. Core on left with uniform moisture and a healthy turf surface, core on right is dry and turf is drought stressed. Annual meadow grass often looks weak in spring – but the cause might be inadequate moisture not cold weather.

Causes of Localised Dry Patch in Fine Turf

Several factors contribute to the development of dry patch:

1. Organic Coatings: Decomposing organic matter produces substances that coat soil particles, creating a water-repellent layer.
2. Thatch Accumulation: Excessive thatch at the soil-turf interface can become hydrophobic, particularly as it dries.
3. Microbial Activity: Certain soil microbes generate water-repellent compounds, exacerbating dry patch formation.
4. Sandy Soils: High infiltration rates make sandy soils more prone to hydrophobicity.
5. Prolonged Dry Weather: Extended dry periods worsen water repellency, especially on sloping ground where water runs off instead of infiltrating into the soil profile.

Managing and Treating Localised Dry Patch

A proactive treatment programme can help mitigate the effects of dry patch and re-establish profile hydration to depth to improve turf performance:

1. Use High-Quality Soil Surfactants: Applying proven surfactants helps break down water-repellent substances, promoting uniform infiltration, distribution and movement of water within the soil profile.
2. Adjust Irrigation Practices: Supplementing or replacing automatic irrigation with daytime hand-watering can help ensure better water infiltration into focussed areas.
3. Aerate: Regular, appropriate aeration treatments promote more uniform moisture infiltration across turf surfaces.
4. Address Thatch Accumulation: Implementing well-timed aeration and top-dressing techniques can reduce thatch levels and promote upper profile conditions better suited to good soil hydration.

Aquatrols Surfactant Solutions for Existing Dry Patch

Aqueduct and Aqueduct Flex (liquid and granular respectively) are specifically designed to rapidly treat localised dry patch. Aqueduct and Aqueduct Flex quickly help reverse the effects of water repellency, re-establish uniform moisture content and aid turf surface recovery.

Once used as a ‘reset’ application follow up with a proven surfactant programme, making regular (usually monthly) applications of a suitable soil surfactant on a preventative basis for the remainder of the season.

Aquatrols Surfactants for a Programmed Approach

Aquatrols have a range of proven technologies designed specifically for regular, preventative programmes.  For information on a surfactant programme appropriate for your specific site conditions, please contact your local Aquatrols Account Manager.

The importance of making regular applications to deliver appropriate soil surfactant technology into the ground prior to any spells of hot, dry weather cannot be underestimated. Preventive, early applications made as a part of a regular programme are key to maximising turf surface performance whilst at the same time getting the best from natural rainfall, applied irrigation and fertiliser inputs.

Commitment to Water Management and Sustainability

Aquatrols develops innovative technologies to optimise soil-water-plant interactions, improve irrigation efficiency, and reduce water and energy consumption. We are committed to delivering products that enhance water use, contributing to the long-term sustainability of our water environment.