Guide to Soil Surfactant Chemistry

Transcription

1 Guide to Soil Surfactant Chemistry Version 3

2 SOIL SURFACTANTS 101 Soil surfactant products are made with several different classes of surfactant chemistries. These classes of chemistry have molecules with different structures and therefore they have different modes of action in how they interact with water and soil. The following pages show the different classes of surfactant chemistries and the different molecular structures they contain. By defining the capability of each class of surfactant chemistry and defining which class or classes of surfactant chemistry each particular soil surfactant product contains, it is possible to determine the best use for a specific product. Anionic and blends with Anionics: Anionics are negatively charged surfactants. They can be fast wetters but are often phytotoxic. Because of their negative charge, anionics can cause dispersion of clay particles which can negatively impact soil structure in fine-textured soils. Polyoxyethylene (POE): POEs are old chemistry like the original AquaGro. POEs are often very phytotoxic. They help treat water repellency but not nearly as well as a block co-polymer. This class of chemistry can enhance water movement in soil. Block Co-Polymer: This class of chemistry is commonly used in the market today. They are much safer than POEs. This class is very effective in reducing soil water repellency. Two basic structures are used: Straight Blocks: Field observations and use show enhanced water movement in the soil and can be helpful in leaching programs. Reverse Blocks: Field observations and use show enhanced moisture in the rootzone and can be helpful in soils that don t hold much water. Modified/Methyl Capped Block Co-Polymer: This class is a patented variation of the block co-polymer class. The methyl caps change the way the molecule attaches to water repellent coatings. This results in thinner, more continuous films of water around soil particles and surfaces of organic matter and balances air to water ratios in the soil for a better growing environment. APG: Alkyl polyglycosides are made from a sugar molecule and a fatty acid. When blended with a block co-polymer, they create a patented, synergistic blend. This blend dramatically improves water penetration rates compared to straight block co-polymer products. Also, it improves water availability in the rootzone for better growing conditions and water savings.

3 Classes of Surfactant Chemistry in Aquatrols Surfactant Products Revolution is made with 100% modified/methyl-capped block co-polymer. Dispatch Injectable is made with 10% straight block co-polymer and 7% APG. Dispatch Sprayable is made with 30% straight block co-polymer and 21% APG. Aqueduct is made with 25% reverse block co-polymer and 25% straight block co-polymer. Aquatrols Primer Select is made with 100% reverse block co-polymer. InfilTRx is made with 20% straight block co-polymer. Sixteen 90 is made with 100% straight block co-polymer. With this information, you should be able to define products correctly and help guide your customers through the confusing and sometimes misleading information regarding soil surfactant products. Now when your customers are looking for a certain set of benefits from a surfactant product, you can help them find the right Aquatrols product(s) to accomplish what they want.

4 Soil Surfactant Chemistry Class OLD CHEMISTRY Anionics Introduced in 1954 POE Introduced in 1954 Anionic Blends AquaAid Multi-Path Naiad Penterra Pervade Propel Polyoxyethylene (POE) Wetting Agents Reverse Block Co-Polymer Introduced in 1995 APSA-80 E-Z Wet FloThru Injector LescoWet Mizer One Putt PenMaxx Surfside Water-In Wet-Sol Straight Block Co-Polymer Introduced in 1996 OTHER CHEMISTRY APG Introduced in 2000 Surfactant + Organic Acid Remover Fleet OARS Revert Symphony Modified Block Co-Polymer Introduced in 2004

5 ification Guide COMMON CHEMISTRY Straight Block Co-Polymer Long-Term Straight Block Co-Polymer Injectable Sixteen90 Brilliance Capacity Cascade Plus Conduit 90 LescoFlo Ultra LT- 120 Myst PBS-150 Remain InfilTRx Drench Duplex Fairway ISP Gateway IrriCure Syringe UniWet UniWet 25 Straight Block Co-Polymer Short-Term Sixteen90 Affinity Aquifer Hydro-Wet Lesco-Wet Plus Recover Soaker Soaker Plus TriCure Micro Reverse Block Co-Polymer Short-Term Primer Select Immerse Magnus Radius ReLoad Rely II Retain Pro UNIQUE CHEMISTRY Blend of Straight & Reverse Block Co-Polymers Blend of APG & Straight Block Co-Polymer (Patented) Aqueduct MagnaPlex Neptune Resurge Respond 3 ReWet Tournament Ready TriCure AD Dispatch Injectable Dispatch Sprayable Modified Methyl Capped Block Co-Polymer (Patented) Revolution

6 Anionics & Blends with Anionics Aquatrols Position on Use of Anionics NONE Because of the negative effects of anionic surfactants on soil structure, Aquatrols does not produce any products using this class of surfactant chemistry. Competitive Products AquaAid Multi-Path Naiad Penterra Pervade Propel Anionics are negatively charged surfactants Can be fast wetters, but they are often phytotoxic Because of their negative charge, they can cause dispersion of clay particles Dispersion of clay particles negatively impacts soil structure in fine-textured soils Polyoxyethylene (POE) Aquatrols Position on Use of POEs NONE Because POEs can be very phytotoxic on turf, and newer block co-polymers are more effective surfactant chemistries for mineral soils, Aquatrols has not produced any products using this class of chemistry for use on turf since Competitive Products APSA-80 E-Z Wet FloThru Injector LescoWet Mizer One Putt PenMaxx Surfside Water-In Wet-Sol Old chemistry, like original AquaGro Often very phytotoxic Helps treat water repellency, but not nearly as well as newer block co-polymers Enhances water movement in soil

7 Straight Block Co-Polymers - Long Term Benefits of Sixteen90 90-day protection against localized dry spot More effective than other long-term products Safe only requires a light syringing in after application Economical to use on large turf areas like fairways and athletic fields Competitive Long Term Products Brilliance Capacity Cascade Plus Conduit 90 LescoFlo Ultra LT-120 Myst PBS-150 Remain Commonly used chemistry Much safer than old POEs Very effective in reducing soil water repellency Enhances water movement in soil Can aid leaching programs Some contain alcohol/alkyl ethoxylates (AE) and can be phytotoxic Straight Block Co-Polymers - Short Term Benefits of Sixteen90 Flexibilty to be applied monthly at 4-6 oz/1000 ft 2 Prevents localized dry spot by treating soil water repellency Good choice when enhanced water movement in soil is important Helpful in salt management programs to aid leaching Competitive Short Term Products Affinity Aquifer Hydro-Wet Lesco-Wet Plus Recover Soaker Soaker Plus Tri Cure Micro Commonly used chemistry Much safer than old POE s Very effective in reducing soil water repellency Enhances water movement in soil Can aid leaching programs

8 Straight Block Co-Polymers - Injectable Benefits of InfilTRx Economical injectable soil penetrant product Outperforms similarly priced injectable penetrant products Improves water penetration and irrigation efficiency The original Aquatrols soil penetrant chemistry Competitive Injectable Products Drench Duplex Fairway ISP Gateway IrriCure Syringe UniWet UniWet 25 Commonly used chemistry More effective than old POEs for injection use Improves water penetration and irrigation efficiency Reverse Block Co-Polymers - Short Term Benefits of Primer Select Aquatrols Prevents localized dry spots by treating soil water repellency Helps establish matrix flow in the rootzone Flexible application rates and frequencies to fit different soil types and soil conditions The industry standard for over a decade Competitive Short Term Products Immerse Magnus Radius ReLoad Rely II Retain Pro Commonly used chemistry Much safer than old POEs Very effective in reducing soil water repellency More effective in soils with limited water holding capacity than straight block co-polymers or older POEs

9 Other Chemistry Surfactant + Organic Acid Removers Aquatrols Position on This Category NONE Because Aquatrols field and research evaluation has been inconclusive in substantiating organic acid removal claims, Aquatrols has not produced a product in this category. Competitive Products Fleet OARS Revert Symphony Treats symptoms and causes of water repellency Hydrophobic organic acid coating removal Improves penetration and retention of water Straight/Reverse Block Co-Polymer Blends Benefits of Aqueduct Quickly treats and eliminates localized dry spots Promotes fast turf recovery from moisture stress Safe to use even under hot, stressful conditions The best curative surfactant chemistry available Competitive Products Magnaplex Neptune Respond 3 Resurge ReWet Tournament Ready TriCure AD Commonly used chemistries Very safe and very effective in reducing soil water repellency Curative products because of enhanced water movement tendency of straight blocks and improved water retention tendency of reverse blocks

10 Blend of APG & Straight Block Co-Polymer Benefits of Dispatch Greatly increases water penetration and irrigation efficiency versus straight blocks Save 20% - 50% in water use Significantly reduces runoff on sloped turf areas (low areas aren t as wet, upslope areas aren t as dry) Increases nitrogen fertilizer efficiency Competitive Products NONE Patented, synergistic blend of a block co-polymer and an alkyl polyglycoside (made from a sugar molecule and a fatty acid) Dramatic improvement in water penetration rates compared to straight blocks Improves water availability in the rootzone Modified Methyl-Capped Block Co-Polymer Benefits of Revoution Produces drier, firmer putting surfaces Reduced irrigation frequency & increased irrigation run times on greens without sacrificing playability Dramatically reduces the need to hand water between irrigation or rainfall events Healthier, more stress tolerant turf Competitive Products NONE Patented variation of the block co-polymer chemistry changes the way the molecule attaches to water repellent coatings Results in thinner, more continuous films of water around soil particles and surfaces of organic matter Balances air to water ratios in the soil for a better growing environment for turf roots

11 Apply monthly at 6 oz/1000 ft 2 in 2 gallons of water. For sand rootzones water in with ¹/₃ inch of water. On native soil push-up greens, apply up to ½ inch of water. Inject oz per acre weekly. For more difficult areas, Dispatch Injectable may be applied at 48 oz per acre. Spray 8 oz per acre once a week; 16 oz per acre every two weeks; 24 oz per acre every three weeks. Apply 8 oz/1000 ft 2 in 1 gallon of water. Re-apply 4-8 oz/1000 ft 2 in 1 gallon of water on a weekly basis until problem is alleviated. Aquatrols Apply 2 oz/1000 ft 2 every 14 days in 2 gallons of water; 4 oz/1000 ft 2 every 21 days in 2 gallons of water; 4-6 oz/1000 ft 2 every 30 days in 2 gallons of water; 7-9 oz/1000 ft 2 every 6 weeks in 2 gallons of water. Inject oz per acre. Apply monthly or as needed throughout the growing season. For more difficult areas, InfilTRx may be applied at up to 48 oz per acre. 90- Day Protection Apply 16 oz/1000 ft 2 in 5 gallons of water. Apply 8 oz/1000 ft 2 in 2 gallons of water twice, 7-10 days apart. Flexible Monthly Program Apply monthly at 4-6 oz/1000 ft 2 in 2 gallons of water.

12 1273 Imperial Way Paulsboro, NJ USA Fax Reorder# , Aquatrols Corporation of America, Inc. No part of this document may be reproduced without written consent.