POSTS FILED UNDER: 'Stabilized Chemical Aeration'
I like to do what I can for the environment, and that’s what stuck with me the most since first learning about Geoponics at the CGCSA trade show, that they’re setting out to make a difference. I kept getting the testimonial emails, and then I saw some of my friends were using their products. Once I contacted them and heard what they were seeing, I felt comfortable giving Agriox a try. After a few applications I’ve seen a more efficient uptake of our granular, even when we’ve put out a growth regulator, and a longer residual from many of our other chemical applications.
But what I’m really hooked on is Penterra. The other day I was hand watering our putting green and got distracted for a minute. When I turned back around, I thought for a second I’d missed a spot because it was already dry. I have never seen a surfactant pull water so quickly off the canopy, and I’ve used them all. I’ll give them credit, it really does what they say it will do.
I’m not big on why or how a product works; if it improves my situation, that’s all that matters to me. Last month (August) I came in $2000 under budget, the first time I didn’t go over this year. I can’t say for sure why, but I know the only thing I’m doing different is using Agriox and Penterra. I believe Earth Chemistries can be the cornerstone of a program, and that Geoponics is in this business for the right reasons.
We have also used the aquatic products AquaKler and Accelerator. With the dry summer we’ve had, there’s been little if any natural water flowing into our front-side irrigation pond. When the temperatures went up, it became dead and stagnant with a horrific odor. Immediately after treatment, we noticed the release of dead organic matter and debris from the bottom. (A funny thing happened as we were applying the Accelerator; fish actually jumped out of the water as if they were saying “Thank You!” for the oxygen.) To this day, more than 45 days later, we have had NO PROBLEMS with this pond; it’s much more clear and has no odor.
Robby Henderson, Superintendent
Maggie Valley Club
Maggie Valley, NC
September 20th, 2008
Around this time last year (early August) I began to hear about a soil oxygen product being used in the area. Then the testimonials started coming in, and I decide to take a closer look. If it was making that big of a difference for courses dealing with bad soils, I wondered what it would do for my greens which were in pretty good condition already. Once I saw signs they were starting to get a little heavy – darkening some, with impeded water movement – I decided to get on the program and began applying Agriox mixed with Penterra. After just a few applications I can say my greens have been easier to maintain this season than at any point since I came here 4 years ago.
Specifically, July and August have been difficult with water management issues in the past. The Agriox program has simplified things and cut down on the amount of hand watering we’ve had to do by at least 80 percent. The greens that we usually have trouble keeping moisture in haven’t been nearly as bad with LDS, and I haven’t had the labor cost of chasing them 4 or 5 days a week either, which adds up pretty quick. More importantly, the grass just looks healthier, and I haven’t changed anything else in my program. I believe it is the oxygen getting down into the soil and alleviating the anaerobic conditions that is making the difference.
Clayton A. DuBose, CGCS
The Tradition Golf Club
Pawleys Island, SC
September 5th, 2008
Most superintendents don’t get to aerate as often as they would like, and that was something I have worked around for years, so I’m always looking to find other ways to raise my soil oxygen levels. Cultural practices help, but before learning about Agriox I wasn’t aware of a chemical product that would do the trick. I’m very happy with the conditions of my greens since we started using it, they look as good as they ever have, and I’ve noticed they recover from stress better than ever before. I sure am glad that it came along.
Mike Ray, Superintendent
Brevofield Golf Links
Wake Forest, NC
September 5th, 2008
Our players expect a constant, quick, and smooth surface, but my grass has to be able to stand up to the heavy traffic of a busy resort environment and the stress of summer. I’ve used Agriox tank mixed with Humawet for the past year, ever since I met with a Geoponics Field Technician that suggested a program based on my specific situation. We go out at a 20 lbs./acre rate following aerification because we find our holes close up and heal quicker, which is a real help. The roots I have now are healthy, thick and long enough to hang out of the bottom of the tines, and the root mass holds together after the plugs are pushed and cleaned up.
Everything I’ve used from Geoponics has helped me get to where I need to be in one way or another. I had been using their foliar fertilizer Terrain, but found the green up to be more than I was looking for. After sharing my concerns with their technical staff, I was impressed to learn they took my feedback into account and created an analysis more suitable for bentgrass. I have since switched to Grizzly Northern to get the even feed I want with the color I prefer. I judge the state of my greens by keeping an eye on my clippings, and they are where I need them to be.
Over all I’ve seen a good return for my dollar, and I’ve talked to other superintendents that now use Geoponics products that are pleased with what they are seeing. Since we are cultivating healthier stands of turf, we can save a little here and there by cutting back on rates and spacing out, or even eliminating, certain treatments. It all adds up, and in the end you get your money back while being a good steward for the environment. I really believe that, or else I wouldn’t keep buying it.
Patrick Donelan, CGCS
Barefoot Resort & Golf
Myrtle Beach, SC
August 19th, 2008
When Agriox was introduced to me it seemed too good to be true. The fact that I hadn’t heard of a slow-release soil oxygen product like it before made me skeptical, but we had some spots on our Par-3 with heavy organic that made for a good trial. Once we saw the grass was becoming healthier and healing easier after aeration, we ordered a season’s worth for the championship course. The proof is in the pudding, and at our annual member/guest invitational recently (June ’08) our greens were as firm as we’ve ever had them despite putting out minimal water, in 100 degree temperatures, while double cutting and rolling all week.
I’m a big believer in the value of having high aerobic microbial counts, especially to help fight off pathogens, and in my view that is the primary benefit of increasing the dissolved oxygen in your soil moisture. We’ve also seen a reduction in the use of N, which shows me it is helping the plant to more completely access nutrients suspended in the soil. I have recommended the product to other superintendents around the country and will continue to do so. If any superintendents considering Agriox have doubts, I would take a call to discuss my positive experiences.
Sam Green, Superintendent
Eagle Point Golf Club
Wilmington, NC
June 10th, 2008
The first few times the Geoponics Consultant came by the course I ran him off because we get so many snake oil salesmen coming around. When somebody tells you they can put oxygen in your soil without aerating there’s no point in listening because everybody knows you can’t do that. If you could, then there would be another product like it, which there isn’t. But then I started talking to some other superintendents that were using Agriox and they told me they were seeing real benefits. Well, we can’t go off what we think, we have to go off what we know, so I tried it. After three applications I know for myself that it works because I’ve seen it intensify the effects of the other things we do.
It just makes sense that if your soil is healthy, then generally your grass will be too. Now when the bosses ask what’s wrong with the greens, which they all do, I just tell them “Nothing.” They like that answer. I’m very happy with the Penterra as well as the Agriox, and when people ask me what I’m doing to get them looking so good and playing so consistent, I recommend both products.
Wallace Chavis, Superintendent
Beau Rivage Golf Resort
Wilmington, NC
June 6th, 2008
Superintendents are creatures of habit and tend to be skeptical. It isn’t that we aren’t willing to try new things, it’s just that we’d rather see other people are using a product because studies don’t necessarily mean you’ll get results. Once some of my peers I respect were seeing benefits from Agriox, I decided to try it. After my second application the compliments started coming in about how firm and healthy the greens were. I would expect that from the newer ones, but the 9 year old greens are doing just as well. It doesn’t seem like I’m doing much for them to look this good, which I attribute to the Agriox. It is worth the price, and I think it should be a part of everyone’s program.
Marty Walker, CGCS
Magnolia Greens Golf Plantation
Leland, NC
June 5th, 2008
We have enjoyed working with the Geoponics products as they have shown to give very positive results with our Paspalum Greens. Specifically, the Agriox, Penterra and Carbotein have shown to have some unique qualities that our greens and soils really respond well to. Moreover, we have received good technical support from the Geoponics technical team to address specific issues that golf courses face on a regular basis. I would recommend these “Earth Chemistries” to anyone who works with professional grade turf and is looking for environmentally friendly products, cost effective applications and a timely technical service.
Tim Haskins
Golf Course Superintendent
The Quarry Golf Club
Naples, FL
June 3rd, 2008
I started using Agriox when my 25-year-old greens started going anaerobic after locking up at the top from a soil amendment. It was a real problem. We had to punch them every week, and there was even talk of having to rebuild. After a single application I could tell the soil smelled better. It’s six months later and my greens have never been healthier. Adding Penterra to the program really helped too. The other morning it stopped raining at 4:00 and I could have mowed my greens by 6:00. Before Penterra I couldn’t have even thought about it until at least noon. It is the single best product for what it is that I have used in 25 years as a superintendent. Anyone that doesn’t believe that can call me on my cell and I’ll tell them myself. If it ever goes off the market, I’ll buy a tanker full first.
Johnny Powell, Superintendent
843-272-3303
Possum Trot Golf Club
North Myrtle Beach, SC
May 22nd, 2008
It has been a constant struggle maintaining healthy ultra dwarf turf on our push up greens. Since the implementation of Agriox, our greens have remained healthy and consistent. We are able to withstand environmental pressures better than ever before and are able to rebound from any injury in half the time. The best part of it is that the product is environmentally friendly! If you have issues you have to battle every year and you haven’t tried Agriox yet, you should give it a try today.
Michael Noppenberg
Golf Course Superintendent
Eagle Ridge Golf Club
mikenoppenberg@playeagleridge.com
May 9th, 2008
Next Posts
Previous Posts