TourTurf® PTC ProActive Turf Concept is a natural soil improver containing a plant extract from Quillaja saponaria, the Soap bark tree. It has been proven that Quillaja extract can greatly improve the efficacy of foliar and soil liquid applications. It improves spreading, nutrient uptake and soil penetration. Natural Quillaja extract can regulate moisture in the top layer of the thatch and soil to alter conditions that would usually favour turf pathogens. TourTurf® PTC can be used synergistically with many TourTurf® products, first and foremost with TourTurf® STA, TourTurf® FDC and TourTurf® IDC.
Quillaja saponaria is a tree native to South America. The evergreen tree grows 20 meters tall. The soap bark tree has a long history of medicinal use with the Andean people, who used it as a treatment for various chest problems (Chevallier, A., The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants, 1996). Traditional use for skin rashes and as soap is described as well.
The extract is widely used as a foaming agent in soft drinks (E 999) (https://www.zusatzstoffmuseum.de/lexikon-der-zusatzstoffe/quillajaextrakt.html) and considered safe for human consumption, in cosmetics, as an adjuvant in vaccine solutions and as an agricultural spray adjuvant.
The production of the Quillaja extract is highly sustainable. Only 35% of the biomass of a tree is harvested at a time by pruning, allowing sunlight to reach the forest floor, encouraging biodiverse plant growth. Five years later, the process is repeated. The growth rate exceeds the amount removed during pruning. This approach supports ecosystem sustainability and ensures a continuous, responsible supply of raw materials.
The whole biomass is used for extraction, not only specific parts of the plant. The extraction is done gently in water, later the extract is concentrated and purified.
Each batch of our Quillaja extract undergoes rigorous standardization to maintain consistent levels of active compounds. This ensures predictable and reliable performance in every application, mitigating natural variability often seen in plant-based extracts.
Quillaja extract has proven benefits for turf. Some of the key benefits are:
Enhanced plant growth, stress resistance and plant health
Adjuvant, spreader and wetting agent properties
Enhanced plant growth, stress resistance and plant health
Studies carried out by the Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology of Plants (IBMCP), Valencia, Spain show the high amount of different plant hormones, beneficial for turf growth and stress resistance, contained in Quillaja extract.
Auxins, in combination with cytokinins, and gibberellins enhance root development and growth. The word 'auxin' means 'to rise.' It is a plant hormone that is important for growth regulation, mainly in stem elongation. Auxin also influences root development by regulating cell elongation. Auxins provide protection against environmental stress factors like drought, UV-stress and extreme temperatures, promoting consistent, healthy growth in various conditions.
Gibberelic acid is a growth stimulator that is important in growth and cell elongation. It promotes seed germination and seedling development.
Cytokinins regulate the rate of cell division, stomatal gas exchange and root development. It is the primary hormone that regulates the growth rate.
Salicylic acid is a naturally occurring organic compound recognised for its role in plant health. Salicylic acid is a signaling molecule with a key role in defense responses, stress adaptation, and growth regulation. By triggering systemic acquired resistance (SAR), salicylic acid triggers the plant’s natural defense mechanisms, which improves resilience and recovery. Salicylic acid is increasingly being used in biostimulants to promote stress tolerance, reduce disease susceptibility, and enhance growth in winter.
Salicylic acid helps turf grow well in challenging environments. This makes salicylic acid a valuable tool in sustainable turfgrass management. When plants encounter stress such as drought, heat, high pH, and heavy metals, salicylic acid assists in stabilising proteins and membranes. This will help to enhance water-use efficiency, enhancing root growth and water uptake capacity, regulating ion transport, detoxifying excess salts or toxic ions, and protecting cells from oxidative damage.
A study conducted by the Universidad Técnica Metropolitana in Santiago, Chile, using the Ramé-Hart tensiometer with the pendant drop method, showed a significant reduction in surface tension, when using the TourTurf® PTC Quillaja extract.
Quillaja extract largely increases leaf coverage, making it a very effective spray adjuvant, improving spreading and nutrient uptake. A study at Universidad Técnica Metropolitana in Santiago, Chile could prove this.
At a 0.1% application rate, Quillaja extract increases leaf coverage by 84% compared to water alone. At 0.3%, the improvement reaches 92%, ensuring more uniform application of nutrients and treatments, maximizing efficiency.
Below is a summary of the coverage improvement observed:
This highlights how Quillaja extract enhances coverage across different application rates, ensuring more effective distribution of treatments.
Trials could show a significant increase in infiltration with Quillaja extract as well.
Independent trials have demonstrated that Quillaja extract used in TourTurf® PTC increases soil water retention by approximately 25% compared to untreated soil. This improvement ensures that moisture reaches the root zone more effectively, reducing run-off and enhancing drought resilience.
Improves water and nutrient penetration
Improves nutrient and active ingredient absorption
Ensures uniform application
Increases drought resistance
Is suitable to be mixed with all kinds of nutrient and biostimulant products