How do soil surfactants work? (Wetting Agents)

 

Soil surfactants (also referred to as wetting agents) are staples of turf maintenance programmes to treat dry patch, mitigate soil water repellency, and to improve rootzone water delivery, water use efficiency, nutrient access, and enhance overall plant health. The goal of this webinar is to provide greenkeepers with an introduction into the basic concepts of soil water, the development of water repellency in soils, and basic principles on soil surfactant mode of action and impacts to enhance water management and improve turf performance.

 

Dr. Stan Kostka, a Visiting Scholar at Pennsylvania State University-Berks Campus, is a globally recognised expert in the development of soil-plant-water relations. He has over 40 publications in the field and holds 20 patents relating to surfactants and polymer technologies and their uses in modifying soil and rhizosphere properties to improve plant tolerances to abiotic stresses and enhancement of plant and soil health.

 

Stan is a regular presenter at turfgrass and soil science events, including Continue to Learn at BTME and GIS.

 

Dr. Michael Fidanza is a Professor of Plant and Soil Sciences at Penn State University. His research focus is turfgrass ecology, the evaluation of plant health products (i.e., fungicides, herbicides, plant growth regulators), soil surfactants, seed technology and cultural practices (fertilizers, biostimulants) in turfgrass ecosystems, and the biology and ecology of fairy ring disease in turfgrass. 

 

Mike is a regular presenter at turfgrass and soil science events including Continue to Learn at BTME, GIS as well as across the world.

 

BIGGA members can watch the recording of this webinar