Secret Valley Golf
Resort, Cyprus, managed by Troon Golf, has used PBS 150 from Aqua Aid Europe to
combat a lack of water caused by climate change.
Cyprus
is one of the hottest countries in Europe and has average temperatures nearing
30°C from June to September. During this time the average rainfall is 0mm
with a small reprieve in September when it rises to 3mm.
Recently, rain
during the winter months has reduced, leading to reductions in water around the
island. This has caused Golf Course Superintendent, Derek Smith, to focus on
methods of reducing hydrophobic conditions on the course.
Derek’s employment
history has seen him work in warm climates before when at Palmares Golf Resort,
Portugal, Alcanda Golf Course, Majorca and The Wave Golf Course, Oman, but a
lack of water to manage heat, similar to what was experienced in the United Kingdom
in the summer of 2018, was a challenge he had to address quickly.
Derek explained:
“Due to climate changes the winters have changed in Cyprus with less and less
rainfall falling. The dams are running at under 30% and they are our only
source of water, so reductions from the water authorities have left us
struggling for water.
“I have always been
very water efficient as I truly understand how this is affecting the turf
industry. Because we could not spend the value of water in our budget due to
the cuts, we decided to use some of that money to help the plant in other ways.
One by using a high-quality wetting agent and another by using growth
retardants.
“We had already
started using OARS HS and from my experience using them, I trust Aqua Aid
products and their longevity. After meeting a representative from Aqua Aid
Europe and explaining our issues it was decided that we’d try PBS150. We
applied it once in the middle of May and during the summer months we saw a
water reduction of around 30% and I’ve seen a much better sward density and
far, far less isolated hydrophobic areas.
“For us, saving
water is beneficial enough, but by not having to spot water we have reduced
labour costs. I also hope that by using PBS 150 we can work on our very poor
river silt soil and turn it into a healthier environment.”
PBS 150, or
polyfunctional branched surfactant to use its full name, utilises
multi-branched molecular technology to address the source of performance loss -
biodegradation of the surfactant molecule by soil microbes.
It is designed to
reduce hydrophobic conditions on a sustainable basis for five months or more,
encouraging a pattern of hydration and re-hydration that improves the amount of
available water in the soil profile to meet the metabolic demands of the plant.
The 3D Multibranched technology helps to even-out moisture difference in
multiple directions, providing a great tool to give more control over moisture
conditions.
By doing this the
uniform movement of water into and through the soil matrix is restored and the
stress tolerance is improved along with the turf quality and colour.
For more information
on the range of products please visit the www.aquaaid.
