Version 2

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Guide to Soil Surfactant Chemistry

Soil surfactant products are made with several di!erent classes of surfactant chemistries. These classes of chemistry have molecules with di!erent structures and therefore they have di!erent modes of action in how they interact with water and soil.

The following pages show the di!erent classes of surfactant chemistries and the di!erent molecular structures they contain. By de"ning the capability of each class of surfactant chemistry and de"ning which class or classes of surfactant chemistry each particular soil surfactant product contains, it is possible to determine the best use for a speci"c 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 "ne-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 en-hance 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 e!ective in reducing soil water repellency. Two basic structures are used:

Field observations and use show enhanced water movement in the soil and can be helpful in leaching programs.

Field observations and use show enhanced moisture in the rootzone and can be helpful in soils that don’t hold much water.

Modi!ed/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 "lms 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 de"ne 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 bene"ts from a surfactant product, you can help them "nd the right Aquatrols product(s) to accomplish what they want.

Classes of Surfactant Chemistry in Aquatrols Surfactant Products

Revolution® is made with 100% modi"ed/methyl-capped block co-polymer.

Aquatrols

Primer® Select is made with 100% reverse block co-polymer.

Aquatrols

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.

In"lTRx® is made with 20% straight block co-polymer.

Dispatch® Injectable is made with 10% straight block co-polymer and 7% APG.

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Dispatch® Sprayable is made with 30% straight block co-polymer and 21% APG.

OLD CHEMISTRY

UNIQUE CHEMISTRY

SOIL SURFACTANT CHEMISTRY CLASSIFICATION GUIDE

Anionic Blends

AquaAidMulti-PathNaiadPenterraPervadePropel

Polyoxyethylene (POE) Wetting Agents

APSA-80E-Z WetFloThruHydro-WetInjectorLescoWet

MizerOne PuttPenMaxxSurfsideWater-InWet-Sol

Blend of Straight & Reverse Block Co-Polymers

ResurgeReWetTriCure AD

AnionicsIntroduced in 1954

POEIntroduced in 1954

Introduced in 1995

Introduced in 1996

Introduced in 2000

Introduced in 2004

Introduced in 20??

SOIL SURFACTANT CHEMISTRY CLASSIFICATION GUIDE

Straight Block Co-PolymerLong-Term

BrillianceCapacityCascade PlusConduit 90LescoFlo Ultra

Straight Block Co-PolymerInjectable

DrenchDuplexFairway ISPGateway

Straight Block Co-PolymerShort-Term

A#nityAquiferLesco-Wet PlusSoaker Soaker Plus

Reverse Block Co-PolymerShort-Term

ImmerseMagnusReLoad

IrriCureSyringeUniWetUniWet 25

Rely IIRespond 3Retain ProTournament Ready

COMMON CHEMISTRY

LT- 120MystPBS-150 RemainTriCure Micro

Modi!ed CappedBlock Co-Polymer

Modi!ed Methyl CappedBlock Co-Polymer

Blend of APG & StraightBlock Co-Polymer

Mulit-Branch Block Co-Polymer + humic acid solubilzer

Anionics & Blends with Anionics

Polyoxyethylene (POE)

AquaAid

Naiad

Penterra

Pervade

Propel

Multi-Path

APSA-80

E-Z Wet

FloThru

Hydro-Wet

Injector

LescoWet

Mizer

One Putt

PenMaxx

Surfside

Water-In

Wet-Sol

Anionics are negatively charged surfactantsCan be fast wetters, but they are often phytotoxicBecause of their negative charge, they can cause dispersion of clay particlesDispersion of clay particles negatively impacts soil structure in "ne-textured soils

Old chemistry, like original AquaGroOften very phytotoxicHelps treat water repellency, but not nearly as well as newer block co-polymersEnhances water movement in soil

Because of the negative e!ects 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 e!ective 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 Bene!ts of Sixteen90

Common Features of this Product Class

Aquatrols Product in this Category Bene!ts of Sixteen90

Competitive Short Term Products Common Features of this Product Class

Straight Block Co-Polymers

90-day protection against localized dry spotMore e!ective than other long-term productsSafe – only requires a light syringing in after applicationEconomical to use on large turf areas like fairways and athletic "elds

BrillianceCapacityCascade Plus*Conduit 90LescoFlo Ultra

LT-120 MystPBS-150RemainTri Cure Micro

Commonly used chemistryMuch safer than old POEsVery e!ective in reducing soil water repellencyEnhances water movement in soilCan aid leaching programsSome 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 repellencyGood choice when enhanced water movement in soil is importantHelpful in salt management programs to aid leaching

A#nity

Aquifer

Lesco-Wet Plus

Soaker

Soaker Plus

Commonly used chemistryMuch safer than old POE’sVery e!ective in reducing soil water repellencyEnhances water movement in soilCan aid leaching programs

Straight Block Co-Polymers

Competitive Injectable Products

Aquatrols Product in this Category Bene!ts of In!lTRx

Common Features of this Product Class

Aquatrols Product in this Category Bene!ts of Primer Select

Competitive Short Term Products Common Features of this Product Class

Straight Block Co-Polymers

Drench

Duplex

Fairway ISP

Gateway

IrriCure

Syringe

UniWet

UniWet 25

Economical injectable soil penetrant product

Outperforms similarly priced injectable penetrant products

Improves water penetration and irrigation e#ciency

The original Aquatrols soil penetrant chemistry

Commonly used chemistry

More e!ective than old POEs for injection use

Improves water penetration and irrigation e#ciency

Aquatrols

Prevents localized dry spots by treating soil water repellency

Helps establish matrix $ow in the rootzone

Flexible application rates and frequencies to "t di!erent soil types and soil conditions

The industry standard for over a decade

Reverse Block Co-Polymers

Commonly used chemistry

Much safer than old POEs

Very e!ective in reducing soil water repellency

More e!ective in soils with limited water holding capacity than straight block co-polymers or older POEs

Immerse

Magnus

ReLoad

Rely II

Respond 3

Retain Pro

Tournament Ready

Competitive Products

Aquatrols Product in this Category Bene!ts of Aqueduct

Common Features of this Product Class

Aquatrols Product in this Category

Competitive “Stripper” Products Common Features of this Product Class

Straight /ReverseBlock Co-Polymer Blends

Multi-branchedBlock Co-Polymer

AquatrolsQuickly 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

Magnus

Radius

Recover

Respond 3

Resurge

Revert

ReWet

TriCure AD

Commonly used chemistries

Very safe and very e!ective 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 Use of “Strippers”

Evaluation of this chemistry type and performance claims have been conducted in our laboratory at various times. Aquatrols research department have been unable to substantiate the claims.

Fleet

Symphony

OARS

Eliminates localized dry spot

Removes organic acid coating

Competitive Products

Aquatrols Product in this Category Bene!ts of Dispatch

Common Features of this Product Class

Aquatrols Product in this Category Bene!ts 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

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Greatly increases water penetration and irrigation e#ciency versus straight blocks

Save 20% - 50% in water use

Signi"cantly reduces runo! on sloped turf areas (low areas aren’t as wet, upslope areas aren’t as dry)

Increases nitrogen fertilizer e#ciency

– NONE –

0RGLÀHG�0HWK\O�&DSSHGBlock Co-Polymer

Produces drier, "rmer putting surfaces

Reduced irrigation frequency & increased irrigation run times on greens without sacri"cing 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 "lms 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 –

Aquatrols

Aquatrols

Inject 24-32 oz per acre. Apply monthly or as needed throughout the growing season. For more di#cult areas, In"lTRx 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 6 oz/1000 ft2 in 2 gallons of water. For sand rootzones water in with %⁄& inch of water. On native soil “push-up” greens, apply up to ' inch of water.

Inject 12-24 oz per acre weekly. For more di#cult 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.

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Apply 16 oz/1000 ft2 in 5 gallons of water.

© 2012, Aquatrols Corporation of America, Inc. No part of this document may be reproduced without written consent.

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