DewCure Dew Control Product

DewCure is a long lasting, dew control product, specifically formulated to reduce the accumulation of surface moisture on turf, including dew, guttation fluid and light frost.

DewCure Key Points

Reduces leaf moisture, suppressing dew and guttation fluid formation.


Enhanced longevity over conventional dew suppressants.

Faster drying times following rain or irrigation.

Drier surfaces can result in less disease.

Quicker recovery from frost.

Reduced labour requirement and drier cutting.
Pack size: 10 litres

DewCure forms a water-resistant, rainfast coating on the leaf surface that suppresses the formation of moisture in the form of dew or guttation fluid.

Guttation fluid

Guttation fluid is water secreted on to the surface of leaves through specialized pores, known as hydathodes. The process occurs most frequently during conditions of high humidity when the rate of transpiration is low. Drops of water found on grass in early morning are often the result of guttation, rather than dew. (Guttation should not be confused with dew, which condenses from the atmosphere onto the plant surface).

Longevity

The longevity of DewCure is a function of two main factors – the rate of mowing frequency (removing leaf tissue treated with DewCure) and the growth rate following application. Best results are obtained prior to or during colder spells of weather when the level of clipping removal and new growth / leaf formation is at its lowest. Trials have shown that DewCure provides from 1 week to 3 weeks longevity depending on the factors mentioned above.

Frost

DewCure increases the formation of ice crystals on the plant leaf rather than in or on the soil surface and because the ice crystals are affected by air and not soil temperature, frost may disappear quicker from treated areas.

Disease reduction

The activity of damaging foliar diseases like Fusarium Patch (Microdochium nivale) and Dollar Spot (Sclerotinia homoeocarpa) is positively linked with conditions conducive to high leaf moisture levels and therefore by reducing this level, disease activity is suppressed. DewCure can be used on all types of turf including golf greens, approaches, tees and fairways, cricket squares and winter sports
pitches.

DewCure Application Rates

Product		Rate per hectare		Water Volume
DewCure		6L		400L

Application Notes

It is important not exceed the water volume shown and to apply to dry turf. Allow DewCure to thoroughly dry on the leaf surface before applying irrigation or before rainfall is forthcoming.

DewCure - keeping surfaces drier reduces disease incidence

Conclusive DewCure research data

It is clear that surface moisture plays an important part in the ‘disease triangle’ of host – pathogen – environment. Adapting the environment by maintaining drier turf, especially in times of expected disease pressure, helps to reduce the incidence of disease. Field trials and end-user feedback in the UK and Ireland have indicated slower establishment of Fusarium and lower incidence through the susceptible periods of the year when using DewCure. DewCure has also undergone extensive university trials in the U.S. that highlight its ability to help minimize the impact of turf disease.

The product’s effect upon the incidence of Dollar Spot was investigated at Ohio State University.

Dollar Spot Putting Green Study
Autumn 2008 - Boehm, et. al. Ohio State University

DewCure was significantly different from untreated check on all dates.
All applications made at 14 d intervals beginning September 2.

DewCure significantly suppressed dollar spot by 75% or more during the course of the study when compared to the untreated control. The level of control provided by DewCure in this trial was statistically the same as the level of control provided by the standard contact fungicide included in the study. The authors noted no difficulty mixing or spraying DewCure and no phytotoxicity was observed.

In a second study, levels of anthracnose were measured after applications of DewCure.

Anthracnose Putting Green Study
2008 - Clarke, et. al. - Rutgers University

DewCure is significantly different from untreated control on all dates. DewCure applications made at 14 d intervals beginning May 16.

In the absence of any fungicides, an adequate level of control (i.e. less than 10% disease) was observed in the DewCure-treated plots early in the disease cycle at a time when the level of disease in the untreated checks (60%) had far exceeded an
acceptable level. Although the level of disease rose in the DewCure-treated plots over the course of the summer, it never reached the level of disease in the untreated checks and remained significantly lower on all rating dates.

The Disease Triangle

DewCure maintains dry surfaces prior to Aeration and top-dressing

All aspects of aeration and top-dressing become more difficult if the operations have to be carried out on wet greens. Top-dressing sticks to the leaf instead of moving down into the turf surface and causes damage to mower cutting blades. In addition, core harvesting is both a longer and messier process when the turf surface is damp or wet.

Using DewCure before aeration or topdressing can reduce the problems associated with the process by eliminating turf moisture caused by dew and
guttation. The drier surface allows faster and cleaner aeration and quicker return to ideal playing conditions after topdressing by enabling sand to better work into the turf canopy, rather than sticking to the leaf.

Application

Use DewCure at its normal rate of 6L/ha in 400L of water. (It is important to maintain a 1.5% dilution).

Make a pretreatment application 1-2 days before aeration and/or topdressing. The shorter the interval between application and aeration, the better the results.

DewCure will continue to suppress dew and frost for a period of time after the operation (duration will be dependent on grass removal by mowing and / or new growth emergence).