Recognizing the uncertainty of water supplies and the occurrences of prolonged regional droughts, FarmLinks has researched and sought out answers for the more effective use of available water resources. The use of soil surfactants is well documented for the management of water repellency in soils, for the reduction of localized dry spots, and for the treatment of fairy ring symptoms. For this and other reasons, FarmLinks announces its newest partnership with Aquatrols, an innovator in soil surfactant technology.
Aquatrols provides the golf course, sports turf and landscape industries with products specifically formulated and tested to help produce consistent, high-quality turf conditions. Golf courses worldwide use Aquatrols products to maximize results from irrigation, fertilizer and pest management programs while conserving water and energy.
“At FarmLinks, we have been using Aquatrols’ Revolution and Dispatch products since 2006," says Mark Langner, FarmLinks’ director of agronomy and applied research. "During this time, Alabama has faced two drought years in a row, and these products have helped us maintain our turf quality throughout these poor conditions.
“We chose Revolution from a 2006 demonstration that tested Revolution side by side with another product. We saw fairy ring on both sections but never saw a decline in the turf quality in the side treated with Revolution. This year, we found that we could stretch our water window out to 7 days through mid June. And even though we dried the soil profile out, we have been able to re-wet consistently. We are on an every five- to six-day irrigation cycle now, and Revolution continues to perform as expected.”
Aquatrols’ surfactant technologies enable turf managers to use resources like
water, labor and turf management chemicals more efficiently. The various products, including Revolution and Dispatch, help solve water-related problems and get the results that superintendents desire by improving water penetration into the soil, which allows for more uniform water distribution and improved water conservation.
“Golf courses receive considerable public scrutiny on water use as well as on the impacts of management practices on surface and groundwater quality,” says Erle Fairly, president of FarmLinks. “Having Aquatrols as a partner in The Experience allows us to provide a even more customized solution for superintendents who are facing these specific challenges. We’re excited to have them here.”
Kathy Conard, Aquatrols marketing manager and liaison for FarmLinks, adds, “The combination of tailored educational messages, hands-on participation and the opportunity to interact with your peers provides an environment for superintendents to learn and make more informed buying decisions. Aquatrols gets to showcase our patented chemistries and elevate the value of our products by having superintendents see our products in a real-world golf course setting. “