Improving Irrigation Improving Irrigation

& &

Nutrient EfficiencyNutrient Efficiency

Improving Irrigation Improving Irrigation

& &

Nutrient EfficiencyNutrient Efficiency

It is a low molecular weight anionic It is a low molecular weight anionic polyelectrolyte. Basically, it is a long polyelectrolyte. Basically, it is a long chained polymer used to improve chained polymer used to improve leaching of salts from agricultural leaching of salts from agricultural soils.soils.

What is it ?What is it ?

By dissolving calcium and magnesium By dissolving calcium and magnesium salts. By changing them into their ionic salts. By changing them into their ionic forms, Ca++ & Mg++ can displace sodium forms, Ca++ & Mg++ can displace sodium (Na+) on clay particles. This allows the (Na+) on clay particles. This allows the Na to be leached out with the irrigation Na to be leached out with the irrigation water.water.

How’s it do that?How’s it do that?

•Requires Calcium and Magnesium to work.Requires Calcium and Magnesium to work.

•Calcium needs to be around 60% base saturation and Calcium needs to be around 60% base saturation and Magnesium needs to be around 10-12%.Magnesium needs to be around 10-12%.

•Without Ca & Mg at these ratios Sodium will not be released from Without Ca & Mg at these ratios Sodium will not be released from soil particles for leaching.soil particles for leaching.

•Soils Soils mustmust have good drainage in order for the salts to be removed. have good drainage in order for the salts to be removed.

•If Ca is not at 60%, then another source of Ca should be used in If Ca is not at 60%, then another source of Ca should be used in order for ECeX to work properly.order for ECeX to work properly.

BENEFITSBENEFITS

•Improved soil tilth.Improved soil tilth.

•Improved availability of: Improved availability of: •NitrogenNitrogen•PhosphorusPhosphorus•CalciumCalcium•MagnesiumMagnesium•IronIron•Zinc Zinc

•Enhanced soil microbial activity.Enhanced soil microbial activity.

•Increased soil pore space allows more room for Increased soil pore space allows more room for microbial life to flourish.microbial life to flourish.

Can be applied through any number of means:Can be applied through any number of means:

•Irrigation: drip, flood, sprinklerIrrigation: drip, flood, sprinkler

•With residual herbicides: *Be sure your herbicide is not water With residual herbicides: *Be sure your herbicide is not water soluble. These products will actually be decreased in their soluble. These products will actually be decreased in their

activity due to their leaching.activity due to their leaching.

•With fertilizers: ECeX will mix readily with most fertilizers except With fertilizers: ECeX will mix readily with most fertilizers except those containing calcium or magnesium when it is in its those containing calcium or magnesium when it is in its concentrated form. The addition of water to dilute the ECeX concentrated form. The addition of water to dilute the ECeX prior to mixing is normally necessary with these products. prior to mixing is normally necessary with these products. As with all fertilizer mixes, a jar test should be done if there As with all fertilizer mixes, a jar test should be done if there is no prior experience with the materials to be mixed.is no prior experience with the materials to be mixed.

USESUSES

Typical Use RatesTypical Use Rates

•Drip Line Maintenance:Drip Line Maintenance: 2-4 ppm2-4 ppm depending on water depending on water qualityquality

Used to keep a clean system from forming depositsUsed to keep a clean system from forming deposits•Flood & Sprinkler:Flood & Sprinkler: 1-4 qts / acre1-4 qts / acre depending on soil salinitydepending on soil salinity

Sprinkler; Sprinkler; wet soil and inject early in set. Allowing water wet soil and inject early in set. Allowing water to push salts down and away from surface.to push salts down and away from surface.

Flood; Flood; meter throughout watering period.meter throughout watering period.

•Fertilizer:Fertilizer: 1-2 qts / acre 1-2 qts / acre higher rates can be applied higher rates can be applied depending on soil salinitydepending on soil salinity

•The ECe-X K AdvantageThe ECe-X K Advantage::• receiving nutritional value while receiving nutritional value while improving soil permeability, tilth, improving soil permeability, tilth, irrigation uniformity, drip line irrigation uniformity, drip line cleanliness, and improved nutrient cleanliness, and improved nutrient availability.availability.