3/30/2023 - By Dr. Raymond Snyder

When it comes to water management in turfgrass, it’s all about getting water down to the root zone, discouraging water repellency, and holding it there long enough to be taken up by the stand. Pairing Harrell’s HydroMAX® Fleet® 100 with EarthMAX® Organic improves overall plant health while reducing salinity stress and increasing root biomass over time.

Fleet® 100

Wetting agents are generally used to alleviate undesirable soil conditions such as water repellency, preferential flow, and slow water infiltration. Improving these undesirable conditions helps turf managers utilize water resources more efficiently and economically.

Since water is one of the key ingredients in plant life, health is often improved by increasing access to water. Plus, the visual quality of a playing surface is improved by promoting greater water uniformity throughout the root zone.

For more on Fleet® 100 and how wetting agents can benefit your turf, read this article: Harrell's HydroMAX® Fleet®100: A Wetting Agent's Positive Effect on Overall Plant Health

EarthMAX® Organic

Plant health is directly compromised when high salinity levels cause osmotic stress, thereby minimizing the plant’s ability to take up water, resulting in drought stress-like symptoms and reduced growth. While water with high pH and bicarbonates can be more easily addressed with acid injection, this technique does not necessarily reduce sodium levels, resulting in a water source that still has high sodium values if all three undesirable characteristics are present. Harrell'sBio-MAX® EarthMAX® Organic is a great substitute for acid injections, to fix poor water quality.

Undesirable water quality is an agronomic variable turf managers must factor in as part of their management programs. Water is the stuff of life for turf, and poor water quality can lead to many problems in the stand, such as high pH, bicarbonates, and sodium (Na). Poor water quality has the potential to negatively impact both plant and soil health if left untreated.

Ultimately, managing the plant's exposure to high salinity will be necessary when an alternative to low-salinity water sources does not exist, and rainfall is low.

For more on EarthMAX® Organic and how this soil additive can improve your plant's overall health, read this article: EarthMAX® Organic Mitigates Salinity Stress & Increases Root Biomass Over Time

Reach Out to Your Harrell's Representative

For more studies like this one, please visit the Research Page on our Harrell's blog. And if you have any questions about the products mentioned, feel free to contact your Harrell's Rep.