REBAL A

NC ESOIL CONDITIONER
SOIL SURFACTANTTECHNICAL INFORMATION BULLETIN
Today, golf course superintendents must deal with turfgrass that has become lesstolerant to heat and water deficit stress due to shortened root systems and lower
carbohydrate (energy) reserves caused by today’s use of lower mower heights,
increased play (wear) and poor water quality. They are further challenged with soil
profiles that are subject to non-uniform hydration and water movement caused byhydrophobic conditions on sand profiles.
Cool season turfgrasses often suffer from extended periods of heat stress, water deficit
stress, or both during summer months. Heat
and water deficit stresses manifest themselves
as declines or reductions in turf quality, root
growth, leaf water potential, cell membranestability, photosynthetic rate, photochemical
efficiency and carbohydrate accumulation.

As the root system declines, one can expect
reductions in:• the supply of water to the plant• nutrient availability• hormone synthesis that plays majorroles in turf quality

Summer Bentgrass Decline
Thinning of cool season turfgrass on putting
greens in the midsummer is commonly referred to as summer bentgrass decline (SBD).
The cause of summer bentgrass decline isclosely associated with high temperatures(both ambient and soil), high relative humidity, poor soil aeration and excessive or deficit
soil moisture.
Soil temperature is considered to be the primary factor leading to SBD. Root dieback isfrequently experienced as midsummer solar
radiation elevates soil temperatures above 300
C - 35º C (85º F - 95º F).

Typical spring conditions showing healthy root mass
and abundant water sources

Root mortality can be as much as 40% - 50%
during the summer. Researchers report that
reductions in root biomass and root death inresponse to high soil temperatures usually
precede any decline in turf quality.
During these conditions, carbon allocation toroots decrease. While root production doesn’tcome to a complete stop, it is minimal. Researchers report that loss of root biomass andincreased root mortality usually precede
decline in shoot growth and turf quality.

Water Deficit Stress
Even when grown in moist soil, turfgrass may
experience daily periods of water deficit. Water
deficit is a normal phenomenon that occurs inplants during the daytime when loss of waterfrom the leaves exceeds water uptake in theroots. This deficit is normally made up at nightand during periods of rain or dew formation.
Under high transpirational demand (such as
occurs in midsummer), daytime wilting occurs when roots are incapable of drawing
enough water from the soil to replace daytime water loss. This can occur as the resultof the roots not being physically capable ofreaching sources of water. It can also occur
when water is diverted from roots due tonon-uniform movement of water through therootzone (preferential flow).
Water stress is characterized by the reduction of water content, turgor, total water potential, wilting and closure of stomata. Under
extreme water deficit stress, one can expect
an inhibition of various physiological andbiochemical processes such as:• Photosynthesis• Respiration• Metabolic activities• Carbohydrate production• Chlorophyll production• Hormonal activity• Cell production and growth

Early to midsummer conditions showing root dieback
and inability of root system to reach water sources

Staying on top of the technology equation

REBAL A

Water Availability
Water is essential for supporting plant life. It isthe carrier in which dissolved minerals enterand move about in plants.
Water is also necessary for photosynthesis,
the chemical conversion of sunlight into carbohydrates, to occur. Plant cooling and nutrient transport also occurs as a result of water
movement through the plant and its releasethrough leaves as vapor (evapotranspiration).
Finally, water has a structural role in maintaining plant turgidity or rigidity.
Sand, as the primary mineral fraction of therootzone mixture, provides a coarser soil texture than native soils, maximizing water infiltration, air-filled porosity and percolation.
However, greens with high sand content tend
to be more water repellent than native soils.

NC E

SOIL CONDITIONER
SOIL SURFACTANT

It is well documented that natural organic
matter in soils interacts with surfaces of inorganic materials, primarily aluminosilicates orclay minerals, to form a strongly associatedorgano-mineral composites that can form
“coatings on soil particle surfaces.
These “coatings,” when subject to wetting anddrying cycles, can rapidly become water repellent (hydrophobicity) and severely disrupt
the uniform movement of water throughthe rootzone. Oftentimes, this disruption of
the uniform wetting front can create areasof preferential flow (sometimes referred to
as “fingered flow”) that rapidly move waterfrom the rootzone -- leaving sections of thegreen without an adequate supply of waterand nutrients. Hydrophobic conditions in therootzone exacerbate the problems associatedwith heat and water deficit stresses.

sis is significantly reduced. The turf plant must
now reallocate its production of carbohydrates
and may be required to use stored carbohydrate reserves for some of its regrowth, repair
and metabolic requirements. As stored carbohydrate reserves are depleted, plant growth,
vigor and stress resistance decrease.
Plant root mass and rooting depths are also
reduced under lowered mowing heights.
Shoot density increases at the expense of root
density. Shallow-rooted turf is more sensitive to heat and water stress than deep-rooted turf and cannot use soil water reservesadequately.

Shallow rooted turfgrass plant showing signs of heat
and/or water deficit stress in water-repellent soil
Electron micrograph of wettable (hydrophilic) sandparticle. Little humic substance is visible.

Because of its limited surface area, sand ishighly susceptible to becoming coated withwaxy/non-polar compounds (associated withdecomposition of plant litter and through exudates produced by microorganisms present
in the soil).

NC E

Mowing Heights
The impact of low mowing heights has been
confirmed by the scientific community as
having a profound negative impact on plant
growth, development and stress tolerance.
At higher mowing heights, the turf plant, isable to efficiently make use of available energy, carbon dioxide and water to produce(via photosynthesis) both structural and nonstructural carbohydrates (sugars) that theplant uses as raw materials for growth, repair
and metabolic maintenance.

Electron micrograph of non-wettable (hydrophobic)
sand particle. Multiple layer deposition of humic substances is very visible.

REBAL A

Illustration depicting preferential flow in sand-based
rootzone.

With lowered mowing heights, the amount ofavailable leaf-blade surface for photosynthe-REBALANCE is an advanced rootzone soil
surfactant and soil conditioner designed toenrich roozone profiles and enhance hydration, water movement, and promote uniform water distribution influenced by water
repellent soil. The product contains a leading edge triblock surfactant and an auxinenhanced seaweed extract (SWE). In addition to serving as a reservoir for major andminor nutrients, amino acids and vitamins,
the amended seaweed extract also contains
cytokinin and auxin -- important organic
compounds that have been shown to enhance turfgrass tolerance to heat and water
deficit stress.

Staying on top of the technology equation

REBAL A

Seaweed Extract Component
Seaweed extracts (SWE) have been used as
fertilizers and soil conditioners for centuries--serving as a reservoir for major and minor
nutrients, amino acids and vitamins B1, B2, C,and E. More recently, seaweed and seaweed
extract have been found to contain cytokinin
and auxin -- important organic compounds
that have been shown to enhance turfgrass
tolerance to heat and water deficit stress.
Seaweed extracts may play an important role
in restoring roots damaged from either highsoil temperature alone or in combination withhigh air temperature. Auxins and cytokinins
found in seaweed extracts induce the formation and growth of roots and shoots. A higher
ratio of auxin to cytokinin ratio favors root
production. Conversely, a high ratio of cytokinin to auxin favors shoot production.
Auxin is also important in the ratio because
it is strongly associated with the elongation(growth) of cells. Additional auxins have been
added to the REBALANCE formulation in orderto provide an effective seaweed-based soil
conditioner that consistently contributes tothe plant’s ability to increase the effective root
area of absorption (root mass) during midsummer stress conditions.

NC E

SOIL CONDITIONER
SOIL SURFACTANT

result in reduced cytokinin availability that
may suppress the integrity of the photosynthetic apparatus and other key physiologicalprocesses and defense mechanisms influenced by cytokinin in turfgrass.
Researchers have found the when turfgrassroots are damaged or unhealthy from heatstress, cytokinin applications in the rootzone appear to reinstate cytokinin activity
in the turfgrass plant and help mitigate heatstress injury.

Once attached to the non-polar surfaces, negative sites on the surfactant molecules serve
as sites for water molecules attachment (adhesion). Attachment of water molecules to thesurfactant molecules produce a very uniform
and consistent pattern of hydration and of thesurfaces and reduce surface tension that enhances penetration, infiltration and contributes to uniform flow in the soil – even within
highly water repellent rootzone profiles.

Surfactant Component
In order to overcome environmental stresses
caused by high temperatures and water deficit, it is imperative that water is available in therootzone to satisfy traspirational demand by
the plant.
The rootzone defines the area from which turfgrass can draw moisture as well as serves as arich reservoir of life-essential physical, chemical and biological processes for the turf plant.
The rootzone is also the target for applied fertilizers, pesticides and other plant health products that need to be directed to the plant via
the root system. Therefore, it is essential thatwater movement into and through the rootzone is uniform and that distribution of air andwater remain consistent.
Included in the REBALANCE formulation is acomplex tri-block copolymer surfactant. It waschosen for its exceptional ability to establish
or restore adhesion sites (negative sites) on
thatch, surface litter and soil particle surfaces.
The tri-block copolymer construction of theREBALANCE surfactant contains non-polar“anchors” that the surfactant uses to adhere to
the water repellent surfaces on and within thesoil profile.

Illustration of increased hydration and uniformity ofwater movement created by REBALANCE surfactant

Benefits
Best results from use of REBALANCE can be
expected when it is used to supplement wellplanned and properly implemented culturalpractices. Counters depletion of cytokinin andauxin synthesis during heat and water deficit
stress conditions• Promotes the development of more
extensive, healthier root systems thatfacilitate water and nutritional uptake
by turfgrass• Contributes to improved stress tolerance• Increases transpirational cooling• Improves air-to-water ratios in rootzone

Re-establishment (regrowth) of viable root system withincreased capability of reaching more sites of water

Roots are the primary sites of cytokinin synthesis and supply cytokinin for shoots. Rootdieback under high soil temperatures canHydration of sand particle as water molecules attach tonegative sites on REBALANCE surfactants

Staying on top of the technology equation• Corrects non-uniform movement ofwater into and through soil profile
caused by water repellent conditions

REBAL A

NC E

SOIL CONDITIONER
SOIL SURFACTANT

DIRECTIONS FOR USE

We highly recommend that REBALANCE be used in concert with a wellplanned turfgrass management program that addresses heat and waterdeficit stress conditions.

Programs designed to address heat and water deficit stress
For best results, use of REBALANCE should start at least 30 – 60 days prior to anticipated onset of heat or water
deficit stress conditions. Apply REBALANCE every 14 – 28 days during stress conditions. Tank mix REBALANCE at
2 – 4 oz. (60 - 120 ml) per 1000 ft.2 (100m2) in 2 gallons (8 L) of water.
During periods of high temperature and water deficit stress, REBALANCE is also available in a pellet formulation
for supplemental hand syringing. Each REBALANCE pellet will treat 6000 - to 8000 ft.2 (600 - 800 m2)

Programs designed to address post stress recovery from heat and water deficit
stress:For best results, apply REBALANCE every 14 – 28 days to encourage root development and carbohydrate production.
Tank mix REBALANCE at 2 – 4 oz. (60 - 120 ml) per 1000 ft.2 (100m2) in 2 gallons (8 L) of water.

numerator
TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
10 2 0 6 C l u b h o u s e D r i v e
B r a d e n to n , Fl o r id a 3 4 2 0 2C e l l : 941. 8 07. 5 3 3 3

www.numeratortech.com

Staying on top of the technology equation