Wetting agents

What is a wetting agent?

Some soils and growing media are naturally ‘hydrophobic’, which means they repel rather than absorb water. If soil doesn’t retain enough water, plants suffer and yields are reduced. A wetting agent is a product that helps to overcome soil’s hydrophobicity.

The active ingredient of a wetting agent is called ‘surfactant’ and works in the same way as a detergent: it reduces surface tension of water. Based on the length of their molecules, surfactants exhibit different characteristics which enable to formulate wetting agents for particular purposes. For example, penetrant wetting agents ensure water percolates down the soil profile, conservation wetting agents help to retain water in the substrate. However most wetting agents are designed with longer chain surfactant molecules that slowly disintegrate in the soil to reduce repellency and improve moisture availability over a longer period.

ICL’s advanced wetting agents

ICL has dedicated time and efforts to develop the most advanced wetting agents. Its products belong to the latest generation and are specifically designed for the use in agriculture, ornamental horticulture and turf. H2Gro® is a wetting agent developed specifically for the use in hornamental crops. It is mixed into potting substrates to improve water management in pots and containers. If a substrate is moist enough, plant can use 100% of the pot volume for its growth. By good water management without any peaks and deficiencies, growers can save water as well as enhance the effectivity of applied plant nutrition.

Benefits of applying wetting agents

• Improved water retention
• Better nutrient uptake
• Reduced soil erosion and runoff of water/nutrients
• Improved plant growth and disease resistance