For more than 20 years, DryJect says it has helped turf managers relieve and revive compacted ground by using a high-speed, water injection system to fracture the soil and simultaneously fill holes with sand or amendment.
DryJect recently introduced AquaPerk, a patent-pending soil amendment comprised of 67 percent super absorbent polymers and 33 percent spent coffee grounds that the company says provide organic nutrients and water savings.
AquaPerk can be injected or tilled into the soil in established turf, or incorporated into a new seed bed that the company says can add to the field capacity of that soil. AquaPerk is intended to, according to the company, increase field capacity of soils, improve drought resistance and germination rates in turfgrass and ornamental settings. The company also says it reduces leaching, can help reduce water use and watering frequency and can be added to divot mixes to reduce recovery times.
The water-holding capacity of the polymers is influenced by the salinity concentration in both water and soils. In situations where salinity is high, the holding capacity can drop to as low as 150 times its weight, the company says.
DryJect research shows that the polymers in AquaPerk should last up to two years when incorporated into sand-based or native soils. That lifespan can potentially be shortened by factors such as freeze-thaw cycles, hydration-dry down cycles and soil microbial activity levels, according to the company.
Spent coffee grounds will have approximately 1.5 to 2 percent nitrogen and trace amounts of phosphorus and potassium, says DryJect. The bulk density of coffee grounds alone is 33 pounds per cubic foot. The carbon-to-nitrogen ratio is 31:1, according to the company.
Founded in 1998, DryJect has helped turf professionals better manage golf courses, sports fields, soccer pitches and other applications where high-quality turfgrass is desired.
The vacuum technology simultaneously fills holes to the surface with high volumes of sand or a soil amendment. This means turf managers can relieve compaction, increase water infiltration, reach the root zone with oxygen and amend your soil with high volumes of material all at the same time. Plus DryJect leaves the surface smooth and playable immediately afterward.
AquaPerk will be available in 50 pound bags by the end of August 2021.
