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.
SOIL SURFACTANTS 101
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.
Classes of Surfactant Chemistry in Aquatrols Surfactant Products
Revolution® is made with 100% modified/methyl-capped block co-polymer.
Aquatrols
Primer® Select is made with 100% reverse block co-polymer.
Aqueduct® is made with 25% reverse block co-polymer and 25% straight block co-polymer.
Sixteen 90® is made with 100% straight block co-polymer.
InfilTRx® is made with 20% straight 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.
OLD CHEMISTRY
Soil Surfactant Chemistry Classification Guide
Anionic Blends
AquaAidMulti-PathNaiadPenterraPervadePropel
Polyoxyethylene (POE) Wetting Agents
APSA-80E-Z WetFloThruInjectorLescoWetMizer
One PuttPenMaxxSurfsideWater-InWet-Sol
AnionicsIntroduced in 1954
POEIntroduced in 1954
Reverse Block Co-PolymerIntroduced in 1995
Straight BlockCo-PolymerIntroduced in 1996
APGIntroduced in 2000
Modified BlockCo-PolymerIntroduced in 2004
Surfactant + Organic Acid Remover
Fleet OARS Revert Symphony
OTHER CHEMISTRY
Soil Surfactant Chemistry Classification Guide
UNIQUE CHEMISTRY
Straight Block Co-PolymerLong-Term
Sixteen90BrillianceCapacityCascade PlusConduit 90
Straight Block Co-PolymerInjectable
InfilTRxDrenchDuplexFairway ISPGateway
Straight Block Co-PolymerShort-Term
Reverse Block Co-PolymerShort-Term
Primer SelectImmerseMagnus Radius
IrriCureSyringeUniWetUniWet 25
ReLoadRely IIRetain Pro
Aqueduct MagnaPlex Neptune Resurge
COMMON CHEMISTRY
LescoFlo UltraLT- 120MystPBS-150 Remain
Modified Methyl CappedBlock Co-Polymer (Patented)
Revolution
Blend of APG & StraightBlock Co-Polymer (Patented)
Dispatch Injectable Dispatch Sprayable
Blend of Straight & Reverse Block Co-Polymers
Sixteen90 AffinityAquiferHydro-WetLesco-Wet Plus
RecoverSoaker Soaker Plus TriCure Micro
Respond 3ReWetTournament ReadyTriCure AD
Anionics & Blends with Anionics
Polyoxyethylene (POE)
AquaAid
Multi-Path
Naiad
Penterra
Pervade
Propel
APSA-80
E-Z Wet
FloThru
Injector
LescoWet
Mizer
One Putt
PenMaxx
Surfside
Water-In
Wet-Sol
• 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
• 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
Because of the negative effects of anionic surfactants on soil structure, Aquatrols does not produce any products using this class of surfactant chemistry.
– NONE –
– 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 1995.
Competitive Products
Aquatrols Product in this Category Aquatrols Position on Use of Anionics
Common Features of this Product Class
Aquatrols Product in this Category Aquatrols Position on Use of POEs
Competitive Products Common Features of this Product Class
Competitive Long Term Products
Aquatrols Product in this Category Benefits of Sixteen90
Common Features of this Product Class
Aquatrols Product in this Category Benefits of Sixteen90
Competitive Short Term Products Common Features of this Product Class
Straight Block Co-Polymers - Long Term
• 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
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
• Flexibilty to be applied monthly at 4-6 oz/1000 ft2
• 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
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
Straight Block Co-Polymers - Short Term
Competitive Injectable Products
Aquatrols Product in this Category Benefits of InfilTRx
Common Features of this Product Class
Aquatrols Product in this Category Benefits of Primer Select
Competitive Short Term Products Common Features of this Product Class
Straight Block Co-Polymers - Injectable
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
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
Reverse Block Co-Polymers - Short Term
• 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
Immerse
Magnus
Radius
ReLoad
Rely II
Retain Pro
• Economical injectable soil penetrant product
• Outperforms similarly priced injectable penetrant products
• Improves water penetration and irrigation efficiency
• The original Aquatrols soil penetrant chemistry
Competitive Products
Aquatrols Product in this Category Benefits of Aqueduct
Common Features of this Product Class
Aquatrols Product in this Category
Competitive Products Common Features of this Product Class
Straight/ReverseBlock Co-Polymer Blends
Other Chemistry Surfactant + Organic Acid Removers
• 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
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
– NONE –
Aquatrols Position on This Category
Because Aquatrols’ field and research evaluation has been inconclusive in substantiating organic acid removal claims, Aquatrols has not produced a product in this category.
Fleet
OARS
Revert
Symphony
• Treats symptoms and causes of water repellency
• Hydrophobic organic acid coating removal
• Improves penetration and retention of water
Aquatrols Product in this Category 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 Common Features of this Product Class
Aquatrols Product in this Category Benefits of Revoution
Competitive Products Common Features of this Product Class
Blend of APG &Straight Block Co-Polymer
• 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
– NONE –
• 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
• 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
– NONE –
Modified Methyl-CappedBlock Co-Polymer
Aquatrols
• Inject 24-32 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.
• Apply 2 oz/1000 ft2 every 14 days in 2 gallons of water; • 4 oz/1000 ft2 every 21 days in 2 gallons of water;• 4-6 oz/1000 ft2 every 30 days in 2 gallons of water;• 7-9 oz/1000 ft2 every 6 weeks in 2 gallons of water.
• Apply 8 oz/1000 ft2 in 1 gallon of water. • Re-apply 4-8 oz/1000 ft2 in 1 gallon of water on a weekly basis
until problem is alleviated.
• Apply monthly at 6 oz/1000 ft2 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 12-24 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.
®
90- Day Protection
• Apply 16 oz/1000 ft2 in 5 gallons of water. • Apply 8 oz/1000 ft2 in 2 gallons of water twice, 7 -10 days apart.
Flexible Monthly Program
• Apply monthly at 4 -6 oz/1000 ft2 in 2 gallons of water.
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