Technical `Nature’s magnet for nutrients`


That’s how Paul Adams, managing director of Soil Biology Ltd, describes zeolites, and he should know, having imported, processed and sold the materials for more than 15 years. Zeolites are essentially aluminium silicates, whether man‐made (more than 150 of those) or naturally occurring (formed from volcanic origins when lava and ash fall into water). Every member of this family of minerals has one natural affinity – each attracts and holds ammonium and has a high cation exchange capacity. Similar to clay minerals, zeolites differ markedly in structure. Clay expands hugely when it takes on water then contracts significantly when water is lost.


comparable clubs so we were only coming up to a par with them on outlay.” “I’m delighted our membership level is so healthy, helped also because we have the lowest seven‐day membership fees in Hertfordshire for private members.” “Although the soil biology programme cost me slightly more in the first three years, it has delivered results and now annual outlay has fallen because we have reached the balancing point where we are ticking over nicely.”


The future looks set fair, Terry believes. “Bring on more of the same, using the compost teas and zeolites. I’m used to witch doctors trying to sell me something that’ll work miracles, but soil biology has done the business for us. Our feedback groups on course conditions and playability confirm that.”


“We have a great working relationship with Hillery, who developed the soil biology programme for us across the whole course.


What’s in the shed? Kubota 5030 Tractor Kubota STW40 Tractor Kubota L3600 Tractor Kubota RTV900 Club Car XRT


Baroness LM315 x 2 John Deere 2500B Baroness LM2700 Baroness GM2800 Baroness LM180


Toro 1600 Hand Mower x 2 Toro Pro Core 648


Charterhouse 7416 Verti‐Drain Charterhouse 1700 Slitter AgriMetal 3500 Blower Trilo SG400 Leaf Collector Dakota Turf Tender 410 Gambetti AMT600 Boom Sprayer Greens Iron 3900


PC FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018 I 123


He has an infectious personality and is full of enthusiasm, and has given us more support in a month that we used to receive in a year from previous advisors.”


“The greens team is delighted that I’ve managed to double their budget because of the financial benefits that soil biology has brought to the club. It just wasn’t the thing to close a course because of poor playability. Now, we have far more control of how the club functions.”


“We saw the light because the business needed to, rather than because I wanted to go green. Now I believe it’s time for young greenkeepers like Sean to learn more about soil biology methods and the benefits they can bring.”


In contrast, zeolites’ framework remains rigid amid what is a reversible process of taking on or releasing nutrients from its structure. With their rigid lattice structure, zeolites’ large open spaces within the cage‐like molecular framework function as pores and channels. Negatively charged zeolites therefore attract and hold positively charged nutrients into the structure.


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