Benefits of FTE:

• Optimum ratio between penetrants and binding agents, so these are not just held within the upper root zone
• Long-chain surfactant molecules are resistant to being flushed out of the rootzone by irrigation water
• Long-chain wetting agents last for 4-6 weeks before being broken down in the soil
• Greater soil profile penetration, avoiding degradation by UV light
• Drought stress is alleviated and water repellence diminished, with increased rooting depth
• The product has dew dispersal properties

Retain the fine turfgrass species:
A challenging issue for turfgrass managers is the loss of bent grass (Agrostis) and fine fescues (Festuca) over time to meadow grasses (Poa spp.) and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) which increase in quantity, destroying the quality of putting surfaces.

TourTurf® FTE Respond® Extreme Fine Turf Enhancer is an effective method of turfgrass sward modification. The product ensures that bents and fescues are continuously able to access moisture, thereby stimulating greater germination, increased root hair formation and enhanced survivability and sward dominance. At the same time, weed seeds are no longer favoured by product application and are outcompeted by fine turfgrass species

TourTurf® FTE Respond® Extreme Fine Turf Enhancer is the world’s most advanced sward modification surfactant, and has been developed in a three-year research programme at Lancaster University’s Centre for Global Eco-Innovation in the UK.

Modes of action:
The innovative wetting agent chemistry balances combinations of long-chain molecules with high molecular mass that act as surfactants, spreaders and penetrants, easily penetrating the grass root zones. The product is able to maintain moisture in the rhizosphere for longer, which increases the soil’s water retention capacity, thereby optimising seed and root contact with the soil.

The increased contact assists seed and plants that would otherwise struggle, without the need for excessive irrigation. The smaller seeds can absorb water more easily, which softens the seed coat. Then, with moist soil particles close to the new fine roots, they produce root exudates, stimulating soil microbes to multiply and release nutrients from the adjacent soil that is kept continuously damp.

The result is an increase in the volume of the grass plant’s “rhizosheath”, which is the soil in direct contact with the roots of the plant.

After increasing the germination percentage, the moisture is kept near the plant roots, stimulating greater production of fine root hairs – all of which ensures perfect contact between the roots and soil.

The increased root-soil interaction results in a more competitive plant that is better able to translocate nutrients from the roots to top growth, with more efficient leaf production and a better turf surface.

Both laboratory and in-situ trials have demonstrated the ability of Respond® Extreme FTE to increase rhizosheath mass, optimising plant survivability and NDVI. See photo below.

The more aggressive domesticated species, or weed species such as annual meadow grass (Poa annua), establish themselves quickly because they are able to germinate more rapidly at lower temperatures, with variable moisture content.

Bent and fescue grass species, on the other hand, prefer higher temperatures and achieve optimum growth with a more continuous supply of moisture. Their seed size isalso smaller and therefore has lower levels of stored resources. This means that if these species start to germinate and then dry out, their chances of successful establishment are greatly diminished.

Field and laboratory trial data
FTE is the world’s most advanced sward modification surfactant, and has been developed in a three-year research programme at Lancaster University’s Centre for Global Eco-Innovation in the UK.

Numerous product performance parameters were assessed to refine the final product formulation.

Sward grass species content, plant root quantity, foliar NDVI, overseeding rate, seed germination efficiency, growth rate, soil microbial content, root rhizosheath weight, root size, and soil water content ratio were all assessed to quantify and monitor the superior performance of FTE.

Additionally, standard water infiltration, dry patch reduction, water retention and water repellency reduction were confirmed by trials.

Verifying the results
A selection of data from the field and laboratory trials can be presented to demonstrate the statistically significant research data that supports the product performance.

The above photo and adjacent graph illustrate the increased germination capabilities of the FTE.

This early product activity ensures that the fine turfgrass seeds sown are given the best opportunity to thrive from the start.

Subsequently, FTE continues to assist the competitiveness and survivability of the bent and fescue seeds in the sward by favouring their growth against Poa annua.

The comparative graphs below illustrate the benefits both to established swards and to those that have been overseeded. The fine grass species are maintained and increased by 61%, while Poa annua is significantly decreased by 71% in plots treated with FTE.

The results are achieved by enhancing the root system of the fine turfgrass species and increasing the rhizosheath capacity of these grasses, as statistically verified in the graphs below:

Finally, the overall outcome is not just improved fine turfgrass establishment, survivability, and water efficiency, but also an increase in turf quality and overall performance, as indicated by the NDVI:

The statistically significant increase of 15.3% in the NDVI (≈ leaf content) shown in the above graph was also visually noticeable in the FTE treatments at the end of the trial (see the photo below).