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Version 3

Guide to Soil Surfactant Chemistry

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.

1273 Imperial Way • Paulsboro, NJ 08066 • USA 1-800-257-7797 • 1-856-537-6003 • Fax 1-856-537-6018 • www.aquatrols.com

© 2013, Aquatrols Corporation of America, Inc.

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