Managing and Maintaining Soil Moisture

Maintaining high quality playing surfaces is a multifaceted task that requires the greenkeeper or groundsman to balance all the things necessary for the health of the turf. Achieving optimal soil moisture is paramount for the health and playability of surfaces. There is also the environmental aspect to consider when it comes to soil moisture management, meaning it is important that rainfall and irrigation water are used efficiently.

Magnum 357 Calibre is a triple-action formula containing 100% active ingredients. The product comprises of a blend of three non-ionic, biodegradable surfactants to aid moisture management.

We have rigorously tested Magnum 357 Calibre so you can have confidence in its ability to transform the way in which you manage and maintain your soil moisture. This blog post will explain the benefits of this product and present findings from trial work.

The three active ingredients within Magnum 357 Calibre bring different benefits, they are as follows:

Glycol-Based Agent – Spreads

Spreads water evenly over the turf surface, ensuring that there is a uniform distribution of the benefits the product brings and consistency across the playing surface.

A trial was conducted to test the spreading ability of Magnum 357 Calibre against water and another well-known triple-action wetting agent (Product A). Drops of each treatment were applied to a clear plastic sheet over graph paper, this allowed the spread of the droplets to be measured. Results can be seen in the graph below.

Magnum 357 Calibre was observed to have an increased spreading ability by up to 14%. This is important as when you consider how many tiny droplets are applied to the surface by a sprayer, it gives a large increase on product coverage and consistency of treatment across the surface.

Block Copolymer – Penetrates

Magnum 357 Calibre’s capacity to reduce surface tension allows water to quickly penetrate, moistening the rootzone and enhancing surface drainage for firmer playing surfaces. This, coupled with its ability to evenly distribute moisture within the soil profile, minimises the risk of localised dry patches and ensures a consistent playing surface.

Another set of trials were carried out to showcase the penetrant qualities of Magnum 357 Calibre. This compared the product against water and another well-known wetting agent (Product A). The first trial used test tubes filled with a hydrophobic peat substance, 4ml of each treatment was applied to the surface of the peat. Penetration of the treatment was timed and depth of penetration into the peat was measured after two minutes. Results can be seen in the table below.

Treatment	Time to Penetrate	Depth of Penetration After 2 Minutes (mm)
Water	>10 minutes	0
Product A	2 seconds	20
Magnum 357 Calibre	Instant	27

Whilst both wetting agents vastly improved on water penetration into the surface compared with water, Magnum 357 Calibre was observed to penetrate 35% deeper than the competitor product. This means that water can penetrate to root depth faster, hydrating the soil and fulfilling the needs of the plant.

This trial was repeated on turf cores harvested from the golf course. Cores were dried at 45°C for 48 hours to make the core hydrophobic. Treatments were then dropped onto the core to time how long it took to penetrate the hydrophobic layer. Results can be seen in the table below.

Treatment	Time to Penetrate
Water	>2 minutes
Product A	5 seconds
Magnum 357 Calibre	Instant

Magnum 357 Calibre penetrated the hydrophobic layer in the turf core faster than any other treatment.

Magnum 357 Calibre has also been proven to provide benefits at low application rates, as seen below in results from a different water droplet penetration test.

Reverse Block Copolymer – Residual Effect

The reverse block copolymer within Magnum 357 Calibre resides in the soil for a longer period than the penetrant element, helping to keep the rootzone hydrated in-between rainfall or irrigation. This is crucial for plant health, as nutrients must be absorbed through the roots in a solution. A dry rootzone hinders nutrient uptake, causing increased stress on the grass plant.

This residual effect results in reduced irrigation needs, and when necessary, less water is required to restore soil moisture to acceptable levels. The graph below illustrates that on Magnum 357 Calibre-treated turf, applied irrigation rapidly penetrates the surface and rehydrates the rootzone much more efficiently than untreated turf, requiring up to 30-40% less water.

To show the residual effect of Magnum 357 Calibre, a trial was conducted where turf was subjected to reduced irrigation inputs. Turf was treated with different treatments and irrigation was reduced by 60%. Results can be seen in the image of the trial plots below.

Note: this trial was carried out in Australia where a 60% decrease in irrigation is significant due to the hot climate.

As can be seen in the image, the stress of reduced irrigation has not significantly affected the turf treated with Magnum 357 Calibre and it performs similarly to another leading triple-action wetting agent.

In summary, Magnum 357 Calibre is a fantastic tool for turf managers looking to gain more control over their soil moisture management. Its triple-action formula, biodegradable ingredients, and proven results make it a reliable choice for greenkeepers and groundsmen alike.