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Independent FAIR WATER II Trial Highlights Fairway Drought Performance

May 19, 2026/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Independent FAIR WATER II Trial Highlights Fairway Drought Performance Independent research carried out at the NIBIO Turfgrass Research Center in Norway has highlighted ICL’s H2Pro TriSmart and Syngenta’s Qualibra among seven commercially available soil surfactant technologies evaluated under prolonged drought conditions. The work forms part of the STERF-funded FAIR WATER II project, supported by The […]

GroundsFest 2026 Opens Visitor Registration

May 19, 2026/in Events, News, Press Release/by Admin

GroundsFest 2026 Opens Visitor Registration Visitor registration for GroundsFest 2026 is now officially open, as the industry prepares for what promises to be the biggest and most exciting edition of the event to date. Returning to Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, on 16 and 17 September 2026, GroundsFest has firmly established itself as the industry’s most anticipated […]

Independent FAIR WATER II Trial Highlights Fairway Drought Performance

May 19, 2026/in News, Press Release/by Admin

GroundsFest 2026 Opens Visitor Registration

May 19, 2026/in Events, News, Press Release/by Admin

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Independent FAIR WATER II Trial Highlights Fairway Drought Performance

May 19, 2026/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Independent FAIR WATER II Trial Highlights Fairway Drought Performance

Independent research carried out at the NIBIO Turfgrass Research Center in Norway has highlighted ICL’s H2Pro TriSmart and Syngenta’s Qualibra among seven commercially available soil surfactant technologies evaluated under prolonged drought conditions.

Independent FAIR WATER II Trial Highlights Fairway Drought Performance

The work forms part of the STERF-funded FAIR WATER II project, supported by The R&A Golf Course 2030 initiative and the German Greenkeepers Association (GVD), investigating practical drought management and water-use strategies for golf course fairways across Northern Europe.

During the severe 2024 drought period, untreated plots required 116 mm of irrigation water to maintain the intervention threshold, compared with 90 mm for plots treated with H2Pro TriSmart. This represented a statistically significant 22% reduction in irrigation water use versus untreated turf.

Alongside lower water use, H2Pro TriSmart maintained strong turf quality, green grass cover, and soil moisture performance throughout the drought period, with the trial paper describing it as delivering the “best all-round performance” under the conditions tested.

Within the same controlled rainout shelter trials at the NIBIO Turfgrass Research Center Landvik in Norway, Syngenta’s Qualibra was recognised for providing the “best overall visual appearance after prolonged drought”.

As golf courses continue to face increasing pressure around water availability, irrigation costs, and prolonged dry periods, the FAIR WATER II project is also assessing approaches including thatch management, deep aeration, and the use of brackish or recycled irrigation water.

Dr Andy Owen, International Technical Manager for ICL, said:

“Independent trial work like FAIR WATER II provides valuable practical insight into how different technologies perform under prolonged drought stress. It is encouraging to see H2Pro TriSmart recognised for reducing irrigation water requirement while maintaining turf performance, alongside the visual turf quality delivered through Qualibra.”

For more information on the trial findings, visit the ICL Turf & Landscape Knowledge Hub.

Please contact ICL on 01473 237100 or visit www.icl-growingsolutions.com

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GroundsFest 2026 Opens Visitor Registration

May 19, 2026/in Events, News, Press Release/by Admin

GroundsFest 2026 Opens Visitor Registration

Visitor registration for GroundsFest 2026 is now officially open, as the industry prepares for what promises to be the biggest and most exciting edition of the event to date.

GroundsFest 2026 Opens Visitor Registration

Returning to Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, on 16 and 17 September 2026, GroundsFest has firmly established itself as the industry’s most anticipated event thanks to its unique combination of live demonstrations, hands-on experiences, entertainment, free education and community atmosphere.

Unlike traditional exhibitions, GroundsFest gives visitors the opportunity to get hands-on with the latest machinery and tools, allowing them to test equipment, compare products side-by-side and see everything working in real conditions.

With more exhibitors than ever before, including many companies increasing the size of their stands for 2026, GroundsFest will once again provide visitors with access to the latest innovations, expert advice, live demonstrations and hands-on experiences from across the grounds management, landscaping and amenity sectors.

One of the major highlights for 2026 will be the dedicated Landscape Zone, delivered in partnership with British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI). The area will feature exhibitors, demonstrations, educational content and networking opportunities specifically tailored to landscaping professionals, designers, architects and contractors.

The hugely popular lawn mower racing feature will also return after drawing huge crowds at GroundsFest last year. Sponsored by Kramp UK, the action-packed races are expected to once again bring plenty of excitement and entertainment to the showground.

Adding even more energy to the event will be the return of Machinery Nation Live, which will once again showcase impressive machinery demonstrations and live-action entertainment throughout the event.

GroundsFest’s live music festival will also return with live music, street food and after-hours entertainment helping to create an event experience unlike anything else in the industry. The festival will begin from 4pm on the first day of the show, giving visitors and exhibitors even more opportunity to network, socialise and enjoy the unique GroundsFest atmosphere.

To accommodate the increasing number of visitors attending the event each year, free coach transfers will be available between Leamington Spa train station and Stoneleigh Park across both days of the show. Coaches will run regularly throughout the event, making travel to and from GroundsFest easier and more convenient for visitors.

GroundsFest Event Director Christopher Bassett said:

“GroundsFest has always been about creating an event that the industry genuinely wants to attend, and a huge part of that is giving visitors the chance to get hands-on with equipment and experience products properly. That’s exactly what GroundsFest delivers. The show offers a completely different experience to a traditional exhibition.

“Every year we continue to see more and more visitors attending the event, which is why we’re pleased to be offering free coach transfers from Leamington Spa station to make travelling to the show even easier.

“We can’t wait to bring the industry together again in September.”

Visitor registration for GroundsFest 2026 is free and now open.

To register and find out more, visit www.groundsfest.com

You can also follow GroundsFest on X, Facebook and Instagram @GroundsFest for much more news, reviews and insightful views

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters

Half Sized Blog Element (Single Author Style)

Half Sized Blog Element (Multi Author Style)

Independent FAIR WATER II Trial Highlights Fairway Drought Performance

GroundsFest 2026 Opens Visitor Registration

Independent FAIR WATER II Trial Highlights Fairway Drought Performance

GroundsFest 2026 Opens Visitor Registration

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Independent FAIR WATER II Trial Highlights Fairway Drought Performance

Independent FAIR WATER II Trial Highlights Fairway Drought Performance

GroundsFest 2026 Opens Visitor Registration

GroundsFest 2026 Opens Visitor Registration

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