The use of sports fields leads to progressive soil compaction, requiring regular mechanical interventions. Without such maintenance, turf becomes weakened and increasingly vulnerable to climatic stress, disease, and tearing. To maintain both soil and turf in optimal condition, discover the Matrix solution.
The trampling of players and the repeated passage of maintenance equipment cause compaction, typically localised in the top five to ten centimetres of soil depth, and sometimes deeper.
However, it is within these upper and intermediate layers that 80% of the roots are concentrated. This compaction impairs the proper circulation of air and water, hinders root development, and reduces soil microbial activity.
To minimise the need for frequent and costly aeration operations, Olmix offers the Matrix solution, an organo-mineral soil improver featuring SEADRY® technology.
Marine algae extract to support soil microflora
Through its influence on organic matter, soil microbial activity releases compounds that help bind soil aggregates, maintaining porosity essential for air and water movement. To enhance this natural process, Matrix incorporates SEADRY® technology, which leverages the richness of marine algae in specific sugars with prebiotic properties that stimulate soil microflora activity. This effect is reinforced by additional organic extracts of plant origin, rich in proteins and cellulose.
Matrix’s organic component is supported by a mineral complex consisting of clinoptilolite, diatomaceous earth, and calcium—elements known for their capacity to retain water, minerals, clays, and humus. Given that sports turf soils are largely sand-based and thus highly filtrating, this characteristic of Matrix is critical to keeping water and nutrients available to the root zone.
Matrix enhances turf growth conditions
A field demonstration at the Golfclub Zwolle in the Netherlands demonstrated that incorporating 10% Matrix into topdressing substrate improves soil moisture retention while limiting hydromorphic conditions.
Over a two-year period, measurements revealed an average increase of 4.5 percentage points in soil moisture for the Matrix-treated plots.
This corresponds to a theoretical difference of 13 litres of water per square meter—enough to extend turf water availability and promote sustained growth, particularly during summer months.
Higher soil moisture levels also help maintain ions in solution, thus enhancing nutrient bioavailability for turfgrass. Conductivity measurements from a rugby field managed by a local authority in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France showed a 33% increase in conductivity following Matrix applications.
By stimulating soil microbial activity, maintaining porosity, reducing waterlogging, and improving retention of water and minerals, Matrix creates optimal conditions for the development of healthy, vigorous turf with deep root systems, more resilient to pests and weed invasion.
