GCSAA/USGA Wetting Agent Evaluation

GCSAA, through funding from The Environmental Institute for Golf and the USGA Green Section, has completed an evaluation of selected wetting agents that began in spring 2003. Due to space limitations, only key findings from the GCSAA/USGA Wetting Agent Evaluation were published in the April and August issues of GCM. The complete data set from the evaluation is being made available below for people who want to know more about the results of the evaluation can have access to the information.

For several years before the evaluation was initiated, superintendents had expressed a strong desire for product comparison data to help them make informed product use and purchasing decisions. In response, the GCSAA research committee developed the concept of a program coordinated by GCSAA to evaluate products that are commonly used by superintendents but currently receive limited evaluation in university trials. Upon committee recommendation, the GCSAA Board of Directors approved the evaluation of wetting agents for the pilot program. Wetting agents were chosen because they are widely used by superintendents across the country to manage localized dry spots, an important problem on putting greens, and because comparison of wetting agents in side-by-side university trials has been limited.

Information on the GCSAA/USGA Wetting Agent Evaluation that is available electronically includes:

• Key findings summarized in the April and August issues of GCM.
• The protocol used by the scientists conducting the wetting agent evaluation.
• The rates and timings of wetting agent applications used in the wetting agent evaluation.
• The complete results presented by evaluation site, beginning with a site profile followed by the results from 2003 and 2004. The results are presented in tables with the appropriate statistics.

The tables are arranged in the following order:

• turfgrass color
• turfgrass quality
• phytotoxicity
• water droplet penetration times at 2, 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks
• yearly average water droplet penetration times
• and dew formation, if rated.

If you have questions concerning the data presented please contact Clark Throssell, Ph.D., director of research, at cthrossell@gcsaa.org.

GCSAA/USGA Wetting Agent Evaluation: Application Rates and Timings

PDF documents

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• Scientific Protocol (PDF -- 48KB; 7 sec. on a 56K modem)
• Application Rates and Timings (PDF -- 235KB; 34 sec. on a 56K modem)
• Interpretation of data

Florida

• Site profile (PDF -- 584KB; 1 min., 25 sec. on a 56K modem)
• 2003 results (PDF -- 65KB; 9 sec. on a 56K modem)
• 2004 results (PDF -- 68KB; 9 sec. on a 56K modem)

Texas

• Site profile (PDF -- 714KB; 1 min., 4 sec. on a 56K modem)
• 2003 results (PDF -- 68KB; 9 sec. on a 56K modem)
• 2004 results (PDF -- 68KB; 9 sec. on a 56K modem)

New Mexico

• Site profile (PDF -- 687KB; 1 min., 40 sec. on a 56K modem)
• 2003 results (PDF -- 61KB; 8 sec. on a 56K modem)
• 2004 results (PDF -- 61KB; 8 sec. on a 56K modem)

California

• Site profile (PDF -- 745KB; 1 min., 48 sec. on a 56K modem)
• 2003 results (PDF -- 68KB; 9 sec. on a 56K modem)
• 2004 results (PDF -- 69KB; 10 sec. on a 56K modem)

Georgia

• Site profile (PDF -- 838KB; 2 min., 2 sec. on a 56K modem)
• 2003 results (PDF -- 66KB; 9 sec. on a 56K modem)
• 2004 results (PDF -- 66KB; 9 sec. on a 56K modem)

Missouri

• Site profile (PDF -- 754KB; 1 min., 50sec. on a 56K modem)
• 2003 results (PDF -- 69KB; 10 sec. on a 56K modem)
• 2004 results (PDF -- 68KB; 9 sec. on a 56K modem)

New York

• Site profile (PDF -- 679KB; 1 min., 39 sec. on a 56K modem)
• 2003 results (PDF -- 67KB; 9 sec. on a 56K modem)
• 2004 results (PDF -- 68KB; 9 sec. on a 56K modem)

Michigan

• Site profile (PDF -- 693KB; 1 min., 41 sec. on a 56K modem)
• 2003 results (PDF -- 65KB; 9 sec. on a 56K modem)
• 2004 results (PDF -- 65KB; 9 sec. on a 56K modem)

Washington

• Site profile (PDF -- 648KB; 1 min., 35 sec. on a 56K modem)
• 2003 results (PDF -- 69KB; 10 sec. on a 56K modem)
• 2004 results (PDF -- 70KB; 10 sec. on a 56K modem)