English
Every irrigation is an investment in a crop. How water moves through the soil—and where it remains after application—determines how much of that investment reaches the root zone.
Corbet Scientific is introducing IRRAMAX at the CAPCA conference in Anaheim, California, bringing a new polymer-based irrigation enhancer to growers and crop advisers. Designed to improve water distribution and root-zone moisture retention, IRRAMAX offers a new approach to supporting the growing conditions crops need to reach their yield potential.
Applying water is only part of effective irrigation. Soil conditions affect how water spreads, how deep it moves, and how evenly moisture is distributed around crop roots.
IRRAMAX’s long-chain polymer technology is designed to promote lateral water movement and retain moisture in the root zone. These functions help address uneven water distribution and ensure moisture is available where roots can access it.
The link to crop productivity is practical: water availability is a key part of the growing environment. Improving its distribution and retention can support crop development and yield potential. The response will depend on the crop, soil, irrigation program, and growing conditions.
From August 2023 through May 2026, IRRAMAX was evaluated in five paired-plot field trials conducted in collaboration with agriMeasures, LLC. The trials covered strawberries and citrus in Florida, cotton in Texas, and corn in Nebraska.
Each trial compared IRRAMAX-treated plots with grower-standard-practice check plots. Sentek capacitance probes measured volumetric soil moisture across the sites.
IRRAMAX-treated plots recorded higher soil moisture than the check plots across all five trials. The response varied by site, measurement depth, and trial duration.
In an 83-day Texas cotton trial, soil moisture in the top 12 inches of the treated plot was more than three times that of the grower-standard practice plot. In an eight-day Nebraska corn trial, treated plots averaged about 17% higher soil moisture readings and showed a more uniform moisture profile at 4 to 12 inches.
Salinity was also monitored at the Florida citrus and Texas cotton sites. At both sites, treated plots recorded lower, more stable salinity readings than the check plots.
These studies used paired-plot comparisons rather than large-scale replication. They provide evidence of IRRAMAX’s performance under the evaluated conditions; they do not establish a uniform response across all fields or growing environments.
Corbet Scientific’s research on IRRAMAX includes evaluations of crop yield, soil moisture, and irrigation performance. Together, these studies help assess how changes in the root-zone environment may translate into agronomic benefits.
Soil moisture results and yield results answer different questions. Higher moisture readings indicate a change in the soil environment. Yield evaluations help determine whether that change produces a measurable crop response under a particular set of conditions.
For growers and advisers, both matter. Understanding the product’s function, the conditions tested, and the crop response provides a more useful basis for evaluating IRRAMAX within an irrigation program.
Corbet Scientific’s technical team will be at booth 516 to introduce IRRAMAX, share field research findings, and discuss its potential fit across crops, soils, and irrigation programs.
We welcome conversations with growers, Pest Control Advisers, Certified Crop Advisers, and agronomists about the water-management challenges they face and the results they aim to achieve.
