Behind the scenes of pioneering research on wetting agents

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Behind the scenes of pioneering research on wetting agents: ICL and Lancaster University joined forces in 2017 to conduct a first-time research into the effects of wetting agents on plant physiology.

PhD researcher Vasileios Giannakopoulos committed himself to the three-year project to find out how wetting agents modify soil and plant relations. The outcomes of Vasileios’ research will be used by ICL as scientific support in the development of wetting agents. We spoke to him about his work as a PhD researcher. What does a day at work look like? What are his challenges? What are the results so far? How does he see the future of wetting agents? Vasileios: “There has been very little similar research, so we have no comparison. It is very exciting.”

Behind the scenes of pioneering research on wetting agents

Behind the scenes of pioneering research on wetting agents

Vasileios (also named ‘Billy’, which is the translation of his name in English), started his academic career at the Alexander Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki, Greece. He received his Bachelor in Agricultural Development and Agribusiness Management in 2017. Part of his study was a 6-month internship at the Nafferton Ecological Farming Group at Newcastle University in the UK. In 2017 he started as a PhD researcher in Plant Physiology at Lancaster University (Lancaster Environment Centre). Vasileios: “When I returned to Greece and finished my studies, I looked for PhD positions in plant physiology and particularly in plant-water relations. I was interested in Lancaster Environment Center as it is one of the biggest environment centers in Europe. I applied for this PhD, because the topic of wetting agents on water-use efficiency is relatively new and very interesting.”

What the research is all about

Wetting agents, or surfactants, are chemical substances that increase the spreading and penetrating properties of water by lowering its surface tension. Previous studies on wetting agents mainly focused on how the products mitigate soil water repellency and improve water distribution. But in collaboration with ICL, Vasileios now investigates how wetting agents modify the soil and plant-water relations.

 

It is the first time that such an in-depth research on plant physiology is being conducted. And with growing demand, droughts, and environmental awareness, this research is more relevant than ever. Vasileios: “We are working with ICL’s wetting agents (H2Pro TriSmart, H2Pro AquaSmart, and H2Pro FlowSmart) to look at the effects on water use efficiency and nutrient use efficiency. Wetting agents are now mainly used in the turf industry and are very efficient in fighting soil water repellency and localized dry spots, but with this research we can prove its benefits on a plant physiology level and open doors to other industries as well.”

 

In this research, Vasileios works with different species of grasses, mainly barley (Hordeum vulgare) and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne ). In the past 3 years many tests were done with wetting agents in the glass house and lab of Lancaster University: 1) Vasileios tested whether wetting agents alter soil water availability (meaning the way water is attached to the soil and the ease with which soil water is extracted), 2) he measured transpiration under elevated evaporative demands conditions (high and low air humidity), 3) he measured root traits (length, surface area and volume) and 4) stomatal conductance (the rate of CO2 entering or water vapor exiting the stomata of the leaf.

A day at work

Vasileios switches a lot between the office, the glass house and the lab. When he has an experiment going on, he might spend the entire day in the glass house or lab conducting measurements. Experimenting with plants requires patience as plants need time to grow. Vasileios: “During these periods I mostly work in the office. In the office I will analyze data from previous experiments, write up chapters of my thesis, read papers, search literature. Most of these tasks are interconnected. If you want to write something, you start with researching papers and literature.”

The results so far

With only 6 months to go, the research shows promising results. Vasileios found that wetting agents increase root access to water. This could mean that wetting agents optimize drought resilience in plants. If this is scientifically proven, that would be a huge benefit of using wetting agents. Vasileios also found that the stomata of leaves were slightly more open when a wetting agent was applied. Vasileios: “I noticed that across 4 different humidities (from high to low) wetting agents increase the transpiration from the leaves of well-watered plants.”

Whether wetting agents improve nutrient uptake is not yet scientifically supported, because Vasileios is in the middle of the testing phase. Vasileios: “Apart from the current results, I hope to come with a positive answer on the nutrient uptake soon. When I started this PhD, I didn’t know what to expect as there are no previous studies on this subject, but I am certainly not disappointed with the results until now.”

Behind the scenes of pioneering research on wetting agents

Behind the scenes of pioneering research on wetting agents

What it takes to be a PhD researcher

Who thinks that a PhD is all about experimenting in a laboratory is wrong. It is mainly about communication. Reports, scientific papers, research, experiments, analyses of data: you may find yourself writing about 60% of the time. Vasileios: “It was quite a challenge in the beginning, especially because English is not my first language. I was used to scientific writing in Greek.”

Besides writing, Vasileios mentions three others skills that a PhD researcher must learn: public speaking, collaboration, and problem solving. Vasileios: “I work on an individual project with people in the same lab or office. This means I have to be able to work in a team as well as independently. You can seek advice, but some difficulties you have to encounter on your own. Learning to be inventive in solving problems really made my life a lot easier.”

During his PhD, Vasileios has had to present his work to different audiences. Public speaking was quite new to him and to present data in an understandable way was a challenge. He is still learning. Vasileios laughs: “When no one has any questions after a presentation, you can wonder whether the presentation was very clear or very confusing.”

Industry involvement

In this three-year research ICL’s H2Pro range wetting agents are used: TriSmart, AquaSmart, and FlowSmart. As a global leader in specialty fertilizers, ICL finds it important to invest in research and development and is always eager to gain new knowledge. The outcomes of Vasileios’ research will become important scientific support for the development and responsible use of wetting agents. Vasileios: “ICL is an expert in wetting agents and has a great R&D department. They really know their products and have been very active throughout my research. We have meetings frequently and their advice is an important contribution to my research.”

The involvement of ICL bridged a gap between the industry and academic world. Vasileios: “Though I love the lab, this is not the real world. We really benefit from getting input directly from the industry. And it is also good to be reminded of who will benefit from the outcomes of my research: the turf managers, the growers, and the farmers.”

Future plans

At the moment Vasileios is working from home. The university is closed due to the coronavirus and the work that he still needs to do in the lab is postponed. He is awaiting news from the university and hopes to complete his experimental work and finalize his research by September 2020. He hopes that he can continue in academic research as there are always new questions to be answered. Vasileios: “I will never exclude a job in the industry, but I do feel at home in the academic world. With this PhD, I feel we have opened a door to something new. The demanding future will want us to become more efficient with water, fight droughts and improve plant resilience, so this is rather the beginning than the end of our research.”

Please contact ICL on 01473 237100 or visit www.icl-sf.co.uk or www.icl-sf.ie if you are in Ireland.

For more news and insightful views, you can follow ICL on Twitter @ICL_Turf

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New Etesia fleets for two Welsh councils

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New Etesia fleets for two Welsh councils: Terry Harrison Machinery has recently equipped two of the largest councils in Wales with new fleets of Etesia PRO 46 pedestrian mowers.

After previously working in the groundcare industry for 23 years, Terry Harrison formed his company in 2012. Terry started his career as a service engineer before progressing into a management position, gaining experience and knowledge in every aspect of running a groundcare machinery business.

New Etesia fleets for two Welsh councils

New Etesia fleets for two Welsh councils

Over the years the company has witnessed continuous growth and is renowned for its excellent aftersales support and customer service. Terry has also worked hard on adding several market leading machinery franchises to its portfolio – one of which is Etesia.

Etesia UK is a company that specialises in building high quality grass cutting machinery for both the professional and domestic market. Started in 1995 with only one walk-behind and one ride-on machine, Etesia UK has grown rapidly and now offers a wide range of products that include a variety of walk-behind, ride-on mowers and the widely praised Attila range of brushcutters.

Terry has been an Etesia dealer for the last seven years and predominately distributes the equipment to councils, contractors, and local authorities. Just recently, he sold 34 machines consisting of PRO 46 PHTS3 single speed self-propelled and PRO 46 PHE3 push pedestrian mowers, to two of the largest councils in Wales.

Following the same concept of the PRO 46 range of pedestrian mowers first launched in the early 1990’s, both models feature Xenoy cutting decks for increased strength, shear washer crank protection, individual height of cut adjusters, a new 22mm handlebar design, the latest Honda GCV170 engine and are supplied complete with 80 litre grass box and rear deflector as standard.

The design has been proven over many years and has an unbeatable record of quality and performance unrivalled in its class. It provides outstanding collection performance, even if the grass is long and wet – something that Etesia has prided itself on over the past 30 years.

One main feature of these models is the ‘one cut’ principle. This means the grass is only cut once before being sent to the grass box. The benefits of this are reduced power consumption from fast deck material ejection and secondly, as it is not multi-chopped, the grass does not stick to the cutting deck in the same way as multi-cut grass does preventing unwanted blockages. The grass box is manufactured for maximum strength and comes complete with a fill indicator.

Commenting on his recent business with the councils, Terry said: “The Etesia brand is hugely popular with our customers. They are comfortable for operators, well balanced and they do the job they are supposed to do.

“Their ability to cut and collect and cut and drop in all weathers is an enormous benefit because there are not too many mowers that can do this. The Etesia machines are incredibly robust and reliable. Users find that they do not break down and they do not need to buy parts or take them to workshops. It is for this reason why they are so good for councils and local authorities, especially with the amount of use they have. In fact, the councils tend to order new fleets of Etesia every year – which shows just how good they are.

“The PRO 46 pedestrian mowers are incredible,” he continued. “They can deal with a wide range of grass areas and verges. They can also be used in small areas where tractors cannot get to.

“Working with Etesia UK means a lot to me.  We have had a great relationship with the company for many years and Les Malin (Managing Director of Etesia UK) has always been one of the most helpful people I have ever dealt with in this industry. I couldn’t say enough good words about Les and Etesia UK.”

For further information, please contact Etesia UK on 01295 680120 or visit www.etesia.co.uk.

You can also follow Etesia on Twitter @EtesiaUK for much more news, reviews and insightful views.

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The Worker Is King: An insight into GKB

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The Worker Is King: An insight into GKB: From COVID-19 discussions to company values and worker experience, GKB offer an insight into their company

GKB Machines, the company behind sustainable, reliable and robust maintenance machinery for natural, synthetic and hybrid turf are offering you a closer look into their company and an employee spotlight on Tom Shinkins, the UK’s Operations Director.

The Worker Is King: An insight into GKB

The Worker Is King: An insight into GKB

Tom Shinkins has worked at GKB Machines since GKB Machines Ltd founded in 2015. Tom offers some knowledge from his past experience, his love for the company and how the UK side has had to adapt during COVID-19.

How has GKB Machines Ltd had to adapt the business during COVID-19?

We’ve had to do online training and sales calls using digital channels such as Zoom, which has proven to be a manageable alternative given the circumstances.  Demos have become very different with social distancing. There have been fewer people on site during the demonstrations and we’ve been prioritising essential meetings that allow us to work within government guidelines. Now the rules have been relaxed slightly, we’re able to travel further and showcase our products throughout the entire UK. The main issue has been that I’ve had to drive to and from each meeting on the same day as I don’t have the luxury of staying in a hotel after a long journey.

GKB have recently launched the Deep Tine Aerator (DTA), how has launching a new machine gone during COVID-19?

Very well, we have had lots of enquiries and interest for demos and seeing the product. We’re now able to follow up on these requests and are still receiving new enquiries daily. As an innovative company we are continually striving for success and this was a big factor in the launching of the DTA during this time. We were determined to not let the current crisis stop us from celebrating our successes in product engineering. We believe a time like this is perfect for driving forward and offering customers the best machines yet. In terms of the actual of launch of the product, we had to adapt. Usually we would have invited lots of dealers and customers to see the machine first hand however, instead we sent out videos to our dealers of the new machine and complete video training of the product. With any new launch we also do social media and PR around this and this didn’t change.

In your opinion, what do you think life will look like for the sporting industry post COVID-19?

I believe that golf has the potential to cash in and reset itself. This is simply due to more people not having the access to other sports for prolonged periods. It’s more likely for both men and women to be dusting off their golf clubs and finding their local course to play. Having said this, I think it may be a more difficult time for greenkeepers. As footfall increases, hours may change, and it will become hard to keep maintenance up. Equipping themselves with the most efficient and effective equipment is key.

In terms of football and cricket, I cannot see these happening on a local level for a while, however maintenance of the ground will still continue. It’s great to see local clubs getting help from larger clubs in ensuring their grounds are kept in the best possible condition.

As the only UK Sales Director and Operations Manager, are you able to explain more about you?

I started helping my dad when he worked at BLEC Machinery, I was 15 years old and helped during school holidays, evenings and often weekends. When I left school at 16, I was given the opportunity to join Peterborough Milton Golf Club as an apprentice, where I studied an NVQ in sports turf management and greenkeeping. At just 20 years old, I spread my wings and ‘officially’ joined BLEC as a sales demonstrator. I spent working here for 15 years and I found my passion and love for demonstrating, travelling worldwide and selling turf equipment. In 2006, BLEC became the UK distributor for GKB equipment. This allowed me to develop a long working relationship with the directors at GKB and their robust products. I also was able to gain a full understanding and experience the true reliability of the machines for when I started GKB Machines Ltd in 2015.

What is a ‘day in the life’ like for you?

Definitely early starts and late finishes, as well as many miles and constantly charging my phone. But in all seriousness, it’s a way of life for me. I love visiting my customers, making new deals, doing demos and looking at the latest product developments.

GKB Machines praise themselves for being a contracting company, what is the benefit to this?

We’ve got a team of nearly 200 people across the road from the factory in Holland whose sole responsibility is maintaining sports fields and landscaping throughout the city of Rotterdam. Having these guys doing the job every single day means when we design and a build a new machine, we take the advice, knowledge and experience from these people and use that to build the ultimate machine. After all, The Worker Is King!

Offering a full suite of extensive turf maintenance machines, if you had to pick your favourite GKB Machine what would it be?

Apart from all of them being amazing, my favourite would be the GKB Sandfiller. This is simply because it encompasses a long-term concept and takes on a completely new innovation. I love demoing this machine, looking back at customers faces and seeing them in awe of how simple yet effective this machine is. To sum it up in three phrases what I love about GKB Machines would be build-quality, ease of use and affordability.

Having worked with GKB Machines in some form since 2006, how has the range developed?

When GKB started in the early 2000s, we had only 4 machines. The GKB Combinator, Ecodresser, Drainmaster and Dragframe. Today, we have a full range of natural, synthetic and hybrid turf maintenance for sports fields and golf courses. Adding the GKB DTA to the range this year is a key part of our development, giving customers their complete maintenance package.

GKB pride themselves in company values, what is a key value of GKB that you believe in and why?

To me, being a family company is incredibly important. We believe our customers are an extension of that family. That’s why we work with our customers on a daily basis to keep them onboard and in the loop of all of our engineering progresses.

How does social media and PR play an important role in supporting you?

Social media is very influential in the turf industry and therefore it is critical that I have the best team to support me in relaying professional messages. The turf industry relies on not just our word but user feedback and by being able to share our customers experiences through social and PR, it reinforces our brand messaging and robust machinery. We also receive a lot of enquires through social media as we’re able to showcase the latest innovations through video and imagery to all of our followers.

For more on GKB Machines and their reliable and robust range of machinery for natural, hybrid and synthetic turf, please visit www.gkbmachines.com or contact Tom Shinkins on 07495 883617 to enquire about the GKB Sandfiller to help give you the best playing surfaces possible. 

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Greenkeeper celebrates 30 years

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Greenkeeper celebrates 30 years: Darren Hargreaves is celebrating 30 years as the deputy head greenkeeper at Skipton Golf Club.

He has been involved in golf as an occupation virtually since leaving Greenhead Grammar School in Keighley, now University Academy Keighley – although he did initially “dabble” with a course in engineering.

Greenkeeper celebrates 30 years

Greenkeeper celebrates 30 years

“I soon realised engineering wasn’t for me as no way did I want to be tied to a bench all my life,” he said.

Darren instead teed-up a lifetime career in golf by embarking on an 18-month Youth Training Scheme at Riddlesden Golf Club.

He then became a greenkeeper at Chorley Golf Club in 1984 – following his parents, who had moved to live on the other side of the Pennines.

But Darren was keen to return closer to his roots, and secured the deputy head greenkeeper post at Skipton.

Over the past three decades, he has been involved in all aspects of course management and maintenance at the Short Lee Lane site, as well as ongoing improvements.

He and head greenkeeper Ian Brown have between them been responsible for maintaining the course in peak condition during the coronavirus lockdown.

Darren said the closure of the course had enabled them to “crack on” with work, but that they were delighted play had resumed.

Tributes to Darren and his 30-year achievement have flooded in.

Mr Brown said: “Darren is a highly-experienced and key member of the team.

“He also has a great sense of humour, which makes him popular with the other greenkeepers.

“He’s a real attribute to both course and club.”

And the club tweeted: “We want to pay tribute to Darren Hargreaves, a member of our greens team who has just completed 30 years’ service at the club. Outstanding and a great credit to his profession. Thank you Darren from all the members.”

The club’s board is planning to mark his milestone.

Darren also enjoys a round of golf himself.

He first started playing at the former Riddlesden club, winning a major trophy there as a 15-year-old.

He says he plans to play more when he retires ­– hopefully when he turns 60, in five years’ time.

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