Soil surfactants, or soil wetting agents, alter the property of rainfall and irrigation water to allow enhanced infiltration into soils while rendering run-off and evaporation. Soil surfactants are an effective water management tool that can be used to reduce irrigation watering times and prepare soils in advance for follow-up to soil applied crop protection products such as soil sterilants. Soil surfactants are effective at reducing soil repellency resulting in greater soil moisture content for growing crops.