Case Study: Evaluation of Soil Surfactant on Fescue/Bermuda Pasture
The agriculture chemical industry has suppliers that promote nutrient enhancers and soil surfactants. What effect will a soil surfactant at different application rates have on a Fescue/Bermuda pasture? Will nutrient uptake be more efficient? Will there be more moisture in the plant?
Method:
A Fescue/Bermuda pasture used for hay production and grazing was selected in the Upstate of South Carolina. A two (2) acre field was divided into four (4) half acre plots. A control (untreated) field was plotted and three (3) treated fields were plotted. Treated fields received a rate of 10 gallons of mixture to each .5 acre plot. Field 1 was treated with 2.5 gallons of soil surfactant to 7.5 gallons of H2O. Field 2 was treated with 5 gallons of soil surfactant to 5 gallons of H2O. Field 3 was treated at 7.5 gallons of soil surfactant to 2.5 gallons of H2O. Soil samples and plant tissue samples were collected from each plot for four weeks during the evaluation. A soil and plant tissue sample was collected prior to any applications and three soil and plant tissue samples after applications. Fifteen soil samples from each plot were collected and three (3) one foot by one foot (1’x1’) plant tissue samples were collected from each plot.
Results:
Field 1 showed the best results for nitrogen uptake. The application rate of 2.5 gallons of soil surfactant proved to be the most effective on the Fescue/Bermuda pasture. 
Field 1 showed the best results for plant moisture levels. As compared to the Control Field, Field 1 had slightly higher plant moisture levels.
Conclusion:
With review of the plant tissue analysis for nutrient uptake and plant moisture levels, Field 1 with the application rate of 2.5 gallons in 7.5 gallons of water applied to .5 acres had the higher total N and higher plant moisture levels. The use of soil surfactants on Fescue/Bermuda pastures at proper application rates will increase nutrient and water uptake.