In-Soil Research

Fertilizer + Hydrovant Resulted in Significantly Higher Yields

Replicated Trial – TRACS 21RDK17 – Visalia, California – Ron Kukas

Summary:
This trial illustrates the benefits of Hydrovant, used with a grower standard fertilizer program on cucumbers. Adding Hydrovant only to the drip irrigation system interacted with the 15-15-15 fertilizer and increased 21,027 lbs of cucumbers per acre from the grower’s standard program.

Conclusion:
Adding Hydrovant resulted in a significantly better yield than the untreated check. This is due to the interaction between Hydrovant and the 15-15-15 fertilizer.

Cucumber Yield Response & NPK Levels

Replicated Trial – TRACS 21RDK19 – Cucumbers Grown in Loamy Soil – Visalia, California – Ron Kukas

Summary:
21RDK19 was a replicated trial on cucumbers. 15-15-15 fertilizer was precisely placed 2 inches below the drip irrigation line on August 9. Urea fertilizer was added to the drip irrigation on September 5, 12, 18, 23 and 28. Hydrovant-fA (Trt #4) was applied numerous times between August 3 and October 9 through the drip irrigation system. This table demonstrates the beneficial effects of Hydrovant-fA when used in the soil.

Chlorophyll Levels in Corn

2021 Irrigated Corn Trials – Irrigation Research Foundation – Yuma, Colorado

Hydrovant-fA was evaluated in irrigated Corn in Yuma, Colorado at the Irrigation Research Foundation. CCI was determined using an Apogee MC-100 Chlorophyll Concentration Meter. The MC-100 can report readings as CCI or SPAD.

Conclusion: Irrigation water mixed with Hydrovant saw a 16.25% increase in CCI.

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Replicated Irrigation Trial Hydrovant-fA

TRACS 21RDK03 – Visalia, California – Ron Kukas

  • Non-Crop trial using moisture sensors and soil tests for evaluation of a 5-hour irrigation schedule.
  • Test took place on fertilized beds originally prepared for a vegetable test that was canceled due to cold weather conditions.

Summary:
The objective of Trial 21RDK03 was to evaluate the water holding capacity of several rates of Hydrovant-fA compared to an untreated check. NPK levels at 5-inch and 10-inch soil depths were also reviewed. Rainfall between January 23 and April 26 was recorded (11 events). Only one rain was more than .4 inches (1.1 inches). Beds were irrigated six times via a drip system. Irrigation was triggered when the Irrometer Watermark sensors reached a specific reading (50 bars). The drip system was then manually turned on. No fertilizer was applied through the drip system. The only fertilizer that was applied was a side dressing of 40 lbs of 15-15-15 carefully placed 2 inches below the drip tape, which is typical of cucumber production systems in the San Joaquin Valley of California. The fertilizer was applied directly below the area that was supposed to be the cucumber furrow. Soil samples were taken on June 2.

Results:
1. All Hydrovant-fA rates produced higher K levels at the 5-inch depth than the untreated check.
2. All Hydrovant-fA rates produced lower K levels at the 10-inch depth than the untreated check.
3. All Hydrovant-fA rates produced higher P levels at the 5-inch depth than the untreated check.
4. All Hydrovant-fA rates produced lower P levels at the 10-inch depth than the untreated check.
5. All Hydrovant-fA rates produced higher N rates at BOTH the 5-inch and 10-inch levels than the untreated check.

Conclusions:
The optimal rate of Hydrovant-fA appeared to be a 6,400:1 water-to-Hydrovant ratio in this trial.
The data provided strong evidence that when Hydrovant-fA interacts with fertilizer, it slows the rate of nutrient leaching through the upper soil profile.