Smart Surfactants

Creating high-performance turf wetting agents is a multi-faceted challenge. The process requires the careful selection of surfactants, the expert blending of ingredients, and rigorous field testing to ensure the product performs consistently in diverse soil and environmental conditions.

Each of these stages presents unique hurdles, but when successfully addressed, they result in products that deliver water infiltration, distribution, and retention—all critical for high performance turf.

Choosing the Right Ingredients

The first step in developing an effective wetting agent is selecting the most appropriate surfactants. Surfactants reduce the surface tension of water, allowing it to penetrate hydrophobic soils more effectively.

However, not all surfactants are created equal, and their attributes must be aligned with the product’s desired functionality. Key considerations include:

• Screening Novel Surfactants: Continuous evaluation of new surfactants, focusing on improved performance and sustainable footprints.
• Surfactant Structure: Linear or branched surfactants can influence water movement differently. Linear molecules generally promote deeper infiltration, while branched structures may enhance surface retention.
• Type of Surfactants: Non-ionic surfactants are often preferred due to their low phytotoxicity, broad compatibility with soil conditions, and effective performance across a wide pH range.
• Durability and Longevity: The formulation’s active life is crucial, especially during extended dry periods. Surfactants that persist longer in the soil reduce the frequency of applications required, which in turn reduces labour and input costs for turf managers.

Challenges in Blending Ingredients

Once the key surfactants are selected, they must be blended to achieve a stable, homogeneous, and effective product. This stage of development introduces a number of technical and logistical challenges, including:

• Chemical Compatibility: Different surfactants have varying chemical properties, and some combinations may cause separation, precipitation, or cloudiness in the final product. Formulators must ensure that all components remain compatible under a range of temperatures and storage conditions.
• Stability and Shelf Life: Once blended, the wetting agent must remain stable during transportation and storage. Temperature fluctuations, exposure to light, and extended shelf-life requirements all present challenges for formulators. Stabilising agents are often required to maintain product integrity over time.
• Viscosity Management: Some surfactant blends may increase the viscosity of the final product, making it difficult to handle, measure, and apply. This challenge is addressed by fine-tuning the blend ratios or introducing viscosity-reducing agents.
• Foaming Control: Excessive foaming during mixing or application is undesirable in wetting agents, as it can disrupt uniform application on turf. Anti-foaming agents or low-foaming surfactants are often required to address this issue.
• Hazard Analysis: Identifying potential risks and aiming for cleaner, hazard-free labels to balance safety with performance.
• Environmental and Regulatory Compliance: Regulatory bodies, such as those under the EU Fertilizing Products Regulations (FPR), classify certain wetting agents as non-microbial plant biostimulants. Achieving this classification requires proof that the product delivers benefits beyond water management, such as improved plant health or nutrient uptake.

Importance of Extensive Field Testing

Field testing is essential to validate the performance of the wetting agent under real-world conditions. Lab tests provide initial guidance, but only field trials can reveal how the product performs under different weather, soil types, and turfgrass species. Key aspects of field testing include:

• Trial Design: Trials should follow a rigorous scientific protocol, such as randomised block designs, to eliminate bias and ensure statistical relevance. This approach provides reliable, repeatable data on the product’s effectiveness.
• Performance Metrics: The performance of the wetting agent is measured through several key indicators, including water infiltration rates, soil moisture content, turf colour, density, and uniformity. Data collected from these metrics offers insight into how well the product is performing.
• Comparative Analysis: Testing the new wetting agent against competitor products provides a benchmark for performance. This not only demonstrates the product’s advantages but also highlights areas for further improvement.

Summary of H2Pro TriSmart Case Studies:

• Water use efficiency: TriSmart’s blend of penetrant, humectant, and block co-polymer surfactants enhances water infiltration, spreading, and retention. STRI trials in 2023 demonstrated up to 40% irrigation savings while maintaining high turf quality.
• Extended longevity: Internal ICL trials (2023, North West England) showed that bi-monthly applications at double the standard rate provided equivalent turf health and moisture retention compared to standard monthly applications, reducing labour, water, and energy use.
• Biostimulant Benefits: Research confirmed that TriSmart supports plant health beyond moisture management, improving nutrient uptake and promoting plant growth. This highlights its dual role as a wetting agent and non-microbial biostimulant.
• Impact on Microbial Life: A 2021 PhD study revealed that by effectively managing soil water levels TriSmart increased microbial biomass and supported bacterial and fungal populations in the rootzone, showcasing its broader soil health benefits.

Conclusion

Developing a best-in-class turf wetting agent requires a holistic approach from specialist chemists that encompasses ingredient selection, stable formulation, and rigorous field testing.

Each stage of development introduces specific challenges that must be overcome to ensure the final product performs as expected. By focusing on surfactant attributes, blending stability, and long-term field testing, ICL create products that deliver superior water management and enhanced turf performance.

Products like H2Pro TriSmart demonstrate how successful formulation can yield tangible benefits, such as reduced irrigation inputs, improved plant health, and compliance with regulatory standards.