Geoponics Blog

We have found that the use of HydraHawk both sprayed and through our fertigation system has greatly assisted with addressing hot spots throughout our golf course this year. It has been a great help given we have been under drought conditions. We would absolutely recommend the product to anyone.

Bob Volpe CGCS
Palmira Golf and Country Club
Bonita Springs, FL

Biochemical oxygen demand is a measure of the quantity of oxygen used by microorganisms (e.g., aerobic bacteria) in the oxidation of organic matter. Natural sources of organic matter include plant decay and leaf fall. However, plant growth and decay may be unnaturally accelerated when nutrients and sunlight are overly abundant due to human influence. Urban runoff carries pet wastes from streets and sidewalks; nutrients from lawn fertilizers; leaves, grass clippings, and paper from residential areas, which increase oxygen demand. Oxygen consumed in the decomposition process robs other aquatic organisms of the oxygen they need to live. Organisms that are more tolerant of lower dissolved oxygen levels may replace a diversity of natural water systems contain bacteria, which need oxygen (aerobic) to survive. Most of them feed on dead algae and other dead organisms and are part of the decomposition cycle. Algae and other producers in the water take up inorganic nutrients and use them in the process of building up their organic tissues.

Consumers like fish and other aquatic animals eat some of the producers, and the nutrients move up the food chain. When these organisms die, bacteria decompose the organic compounds and release into the water inorganic nutrients such as nitrate, phosphate, calcium, and others. Some of these nutrients end up down stream or in sediments, but most of them recycle again and again. Most of the bacteria in the aquatic water column are aerobic. That means that they use oxygen to perform their metabolic activities of decomposition. Remember that we learned in other related exercises that under normal conditions, dissolved oxygen exists in very low concentrations. Natural levels of oxygen in aquatic systems are always somewhat depleted by normal levels of aerobic bacterial activity. In most cases, if dissolved oxygen concentrations drop below 5 parts per million (ppm), fish will be unable to live for very long. All clean water species such as trout or salmon will die well above this level and even low oxygen fish such as catfish and carp will be at risk below 5 ppm.

When abnormally high levels of aerobic bacterial activity takes place, however, the level of dissolved oxygen can drop dramatically. Under what circumstances does this happen? Generally, this occurs when there is some sort of abnormal “pollution” introduced into the system. This can occur in the form of organic pollution for sources such as domestic sewage, septic tank leakage, and fertilizer runoff, or could be in the form of inorganics from domestic or industrial sources. Natural sources of organic compounds can also come into aquatic systems by means of floods, landslides, and erosion.

One of the most important nutrients, which affected BOD in aquatic systems in the recent past is phosphate pollution from American households. It was discovered decades ago that the addition of phosphorous to soaps and detergents made them clean better. By the 1960’s, millions of households and businesses were dumping tons and tons of phosphate down the drain. Eventually, much of this important nutrient made its way to the watercourses of America. Because phosphorous is one of the most important limiting factors (necessary nutrients) in aquatic systems, there began numerous and widespread algal blooms. Algal blooms are dramatic population outbursts of growth in which often one or two species of algae suddenly find the conditions right for rapid growth.

Because most unicellular algae reproduce asexually by rapid cell division, it doesn’t take long for a species of algae to suddenly and literally turn the water green with billions and billions of new cells. Because the conditions necessary to these algal blooms are sometimes temporary or because the algae exceed the threshold level of some other limiting factor, the blooms are only temporary. They often last only a few days. What happens when the bloom is over? The algal cells don’t have enough nutrients and most of them die. At this point, the aerobic bacteria become important and start to decompose the algae. Because there is so much food for them, they also experience a sort of bloom, and they literally suck the oxygen out of the water. When the oxygen is gone, the bacteria and most other aerobic creatures in the aquatic system start to die.

cited from Freedrinkingwater.com

I had heard about Geoponics and its product line from our club’s General Manager. Plus I see them on Facebook all the time. We had been facing some serious challenges on our sand based L-93 Bentgrass greens. We could not get the water to move through plus we had bicarbonates in the 450 ppm range.

I had tried every product on the market within our area and nothing would penetrate through. I mean nothing.  I have even used some of the more well known brands at four times the rate and went behind the application with a soil profile to check the moisture content and it was bone dry and the temperatures were rising. With Bentgrass that can be a challenge in itself.

The first time we tried the and Detox the results were nothing less than amazing!  For the first time after all the times of trying other products we finally got some good results. However, I was not expecting to see such a fast response from the turf.  Within a day the color of the turf greened up tremendously. I am sure it was because of the gas and water exchange. Nonetheless I was pleased to see such a response! The moisture levels had evened out throughout the soil profile.   So we kept using the Penterra and Detox and have had wonderful success from them for almost two years now.

Long term, apart from saving a lot of money on products and water, we have noticed a significant reduction in fungicide applications, specifically Dollar Spot.  If I had to put a number to it, it would be at least 33% but probably more than that. You know, with the Penterra, when you spray it out, you definitely know where it was sprayed.  There is NO dew! Less water on the leaf blade keeps the disease pressure down. Just makes sense.  We also have a limited crew so chasing hot spots with hoses and reducing our overhead cost have been a huge benefit as well.

As far as a recommendation to others, I’ll just say that I have tried everything and Penterra and Detox are the only products that have worked for me in our situation. The fact that we are saving money in the process is a huge benefit as well. Absolutely I would recommend the products!

RJ Stein
Golf Course Superintendent
Ashley Plantation Country Club

We have been using the Geoponics products for almost four years now. We have seen wonderful results on our Floradwarf Greens at our twenty seven hole facility. The Grizzly Pro Turf Program when used with the Agriox and managing water with either the Humawet or Penterra have assisted us to keep our turf consistent and uniform in some extreme climate conditions. With water becoming more and more of a issue that we have to deal with, it is nice to have tools we can pull from that really help with these challenges. Moreover, the service we receive from Geoponics is fantastic. Everyone I have met in the company goes out of their way to ensure the products are delivered in a timely manner and rarely will I call when there is not someone available to answer any questions I may have. Literally any time of day! I would sincerely recommend the company to anyone who is looking to move towards more sustainable practices where water and agronomic practices are concerned and doing so in a cost effective manner. We have been very happy to have Geoponics as a vendor at our club.

Scott Davis
Golf Course Superintendent
The Strand Country Club
Naples, FL
The Strand Country Club

We had no water for 3 days and the grass was cooked. The first day and a half we watered alot then used Penterra on the greens. Three days later it looked like it never happened. Great product. Also it has helped us with dry compacted areas.

Matt Lean
Golf Course Superintendent
Monterrey Yacht and Country Club
Stuart, FL

Need to get water moving through your soil profile? Contact us today!. We want to help you!