The recent summer heat wave has propelled daytime temperatures across much of the country to an excess of 100 degrees Fahrenheit. As a result of the high temperatures and drought conditions, cool season turfgrasses such as Kentucky Bluegrass, Perennial Ryegrass and Fine Leaf Fescue have gone dormant and turned brown from stress.
Homeowners, facility managers and golf course superintendents continue to excessively water and fertilize their grasses, only to see them continue to turn brown and succumb to weeds during the summer months.
O’Fallon, Illinois-based Brookside Agra has developed a proprietary, natural water conservation agent called H2OExcel™ that has been scientifically proven by a university research study to improve the health and appearance of turfgrass when heat and drought conditions are high, using 30% to 50% less water.
Natural H2OExcel has also been proven to:
- Increase root mass
- Defend against dehydration of the soil and plant
- Discourage harmful microorganisms
- Strengthen turf to defend against weeds
- Reduce the use of fertilizers
- Lower maintenance costs
“Water will always take the path of least resistance and simply run-off. This common occurrence leads to the over-watering and fertilization of plants, crops and yards because water cannot reach the root system,” said Tony Arro, Brookside Agra Director of Sales – Specialty Products. “The power of H2OExcel’s long-term use is that it creates a soil profile that allows oxygen and water to naturally penetrate the surface, thus allowing fertilizers and nutrients a more efficient path to the root zone.”
H2OExcel is a 100% biodegradable, proprietary blend of desert plant extracts; high-quality, humic acid-containing biologicals; and other all-natural, non-plant derived nutrient enhancers. Highly efficient, H2OExcel and can change the polarity of water and soil to increase biological activity, interact with soil capillarity pressure and defend against dehydration of both the soil and plants by keeping water available deeper within the soil profile. H2OExcel also helps to increase available nutrients and balance the amount of water within the root zone of growing plants by supercharging biological activity.
Researchers from Purdue University proved through an independent research study the effectiveness of H2OExcel in maintaining healthy turf.
Dr. Cale A. Bigelow, Associate Professor of Agronomy – Turfgrass Science, conducted the Purdue University turf treatment studies from late May 2013 to early August 2013. The study area consisted of a sand-based rootzone conforming to USGA rootzone specifications and a mature strand of creeping Bentgrass. The turf was maintained according to typical, moderate putting green management practices for the region and fertilizer, insecticides and fungicides were applied on an as-needed basis.
The turf treatment studies compared the use of Brookside Agra’s H2OExcel, the leading competitor’s product and the untreated control at various application rates and timings/frequencies. The plots were assessed for overall visual turf grass quality, wilted/brown turf and turf injury. Canopy greenness by reflectance was also measured and the values were presented in a color index value.
The research concluded that turf treated with H2OExcel and the leading competitor’s product displayed significantly less wilt and healthier visual/turf quality compared to the untreated control turf. However, the H2OExcel results were accomplished using 86% less product than the leading chemical-based competitor to achieve virtually the same outcome for these studies.
“I started using H2OExcel with the downturn in the economy and demands from golfers were high to continue to provide excellent golf course conditions,” said Mike Daugherty, former Golf Course Superintendent at Sunset Hills Country Club in Edwardsville, IL. “So we were looking for ways to save money anywhere possible. The product helped me in water usage, labor savings and getting more bang for our buck on our fertilizer applications.”
H2OExcel, which can be blended with fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides, is safe for use on golf course fairways, tee boxes and greens, crops, landscaping, lawns, trees, vegetable gardens, and other vegetation. H2OExcel’s product ingredients are on the GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) list, which is approved by both the FDA and AAFCO.
For more information about H2OExcel, visit brookside-agra.com/h2Oexcel. For more information about the 2013 Purdue University Turf Study, visit brookside-agra.com/2013-purdue-university-turf-study/.
About Brookside Agra
Brookside Agra is a global fifth-generation, family-owned business based in O’Fallon, IL that manufactures and distributes a variety of research-proven, all-natural products for specialty feeds; animal health and production; agriculture; and commercial, industrial and environmental use. Brookside also offers agronomy services, which include crop nutrient recommendations, soil sampling, water and fertilizer analysis, and precision mapping, among other services. For more information about Brookside Agra and its products and services, visit www.brookside-agra.com or contact Chad Vaninger, Executive Vice President and General Manager, at 618-628-8300 Ext. 23 or chadv@brookside-agra.com.
