Brimpton, Berkshire, England: Indigrow’s Magnum range of tried and tested wetting agents has been formulated to work in conjunction with one another to provide a complete solution for turf managers.

The Magnum wetting agents also take on a further role in water management. By helping to improve water conservation, particularly during periods of drought, Indigrow’s wetting agents can help to maintain or improve turf health and quality.

Indigrow has developed two products – Magnum 357 Calibre and Magnum CO – which work in partnership for greatest effect.

Brian Croose, Asean Regional Manager for Indigrow, a Full Business Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation, says the company’s most recent and advanced formulation wetting agent is Magnum 357 Calibre, a blend of non-ionic surfactants that contains 100% active ingredients.

“With three active ingredients and three modes of action, this 100% bio-degradable product is ideal to maintain the correct balance of water in the soil profile,” said Croose.

The three active ingredients are:

• A glycol-based ingredient which spreads across the surface of turf.
• A block co-polymer which aids water penetration.
• A reverse block co-polymer which helps balance water within the rootzone.

This triple action wetting agent combines three different surfactant technologies to provide:

• Even spreading of water over the turf surface.
• Efficient water penetration through advanced penetrant technologies.
• Improved water holding capacity through the use of reverse block co-polymers.

“By using wetting agents such as Magnum 357 Calibre, the amount of irrigation or rain water required to bring rootzones back to acceptable moisture contents is greatly reduced. Typically, there is a saving in water of between 30% and 40%,” said Croose.

Tried and tested spreading agents ensure that the applied spray is evenly distributed across the surface of the turf and at the same time aids in penetration into the rootzone.

“Improvements in penetration are significant when compared to untreated soils and Magnum 357 performs favourably to other products even at relatively low rates,” said Croose.

Magnum CO – Curative contains an organic acid designed to clean the sand particle and flush unwanted waxes, hydro-carbons, bicarbonate salts and minerals through the soil profile.

Waxy organic layers on soil particles shed water and do not allow water to hold in rootzone. Poor water infiltration caused by hydro-phobic waxes, fats or other organic debris that form water repellent ‘coatings’ on soil or sand particles.

Magnum CO contains a cleansing agent which solubilises the waxy deposits and flushes them away. Once the sand particles have been ‘cleaned’, it’s important not to allow these hydrophobic waxes, fats or other organic debris to build up again.

Wetting agent programmes are essential in achieving a reduction in dry patch and fairy ring outbreaks.

“By alternating curative (Magnum CO) and preventative (Magnum 357 Calibre) products, the waxy coating covering soil and sand particles is broken down. This process also helps with the re-wetting of the soil profile. This approach helps to eradicate plant stress, providing a more consistent playing surface.

“Applying Magnum 357 Calibre and Magnum CO in a targeted wetting agent programme will offer the most effective results against dry patch and other water-related turf management issues,” said Croose, adding that Magnum CO can also be used as part of a salt flushing programme to reduce high Electrical Conductivity (EC).