Penetrants vs. retainers: is there a difference?

This question comes up about soil surfactants (wetting agents) multiple times per year. The USGA Green Section Record article by O'Brien et al. on this terminology and what the actual effects are is a good one to be familiar with.

Read the full article: "Penetrants vs. Retainers: Understanding Wetting Agent Claims and the Science Behind Them"

Here are some key quotes from the article.

- "First and foremost, penetrant and retainer are marketing terms." - "In 2019, researchers at the…