Combating Poor Water Quality, Sustainably
FERTICELL™ USA – The ability to deliver and consume high-quality vegetables may be jeopardized. As drought conditions continue to intensify, farmers west of the Rockies are becoming increasingly anxious. With deliveries from water districts at an all-time low this year, wells are becoming increasingly important for plants to survive and yield a crop. Unfortunately, the quality of the water coming from these agricultural wells is deteriorating. Because of low reservoir levels and a shortage of surface water used to help replenish aquifers, growers are beginning to feel the pressure to obtain water from deeper underground sources. However, impurities such as bicarbonate and salt must be controlled if this occurs.
It has become necessary for growers to keep these bicarbonates moving through the soil by adding weak acids to their irrigation systems. Without the addition of weak acids, bicarbonates will work against the process of crop growth by slowly sealing off the soil surface. When this happens, water has a difficult time getting through the surface of the soil and making it to the roots due to salt build-up. Soils dry out as a result of evapotranspiration in plants and vines, as well as excessive evaporation. This leads to bicarbonates generating calcium from particles of clay soil, leaving sodium ions in place of beneficial calcium ions. Eventually, this calcium-rich soil will become sodium-rich (sodic) soil.
Most irrigation water contains varying quantities of sodium, which is one of the most easily dissolved cations in water. Sodium produces unfavorable growth circumstances, especially in the early phases of plant development, due to the soil’s adhering clay particles. As a result, the soil becomes sealed off, which makes it difficult for water to be infiltrated and reduces the amount of water available to the plants. When soils dry up, sodium causes clumping of the soil-making for soil that is more difficult to fertilize. The plant quickly absorbs sodium because of how soluble it is. The most common symptom of sodium toxicity is burning or decaying of the leaf margins. Calcium that has been added to the soil aids in the relocation of sodium ions in the soil, allowing rain and other clean water to wash the sodium ions out of the soil surrounding the roots.
This may be discouraging, but there is a technique to resolve these irrigation problems while simultaneously enhancing the overall health of the soil. Sufficient levels of microbial activity in well-flocculated soils enable them to be more resistant to pollution in marginal water. Healthy soil requires a consistent supply of specific amounts of calcium, magnesium, and potassium. These elements maintain soil flocculation, which allows for better water infiltration. Most US soils are lacking in at least one of these three elements, with calcium and potassium deficiencies being more frequent. To maintain the necessary levels, these elements should be added to the soil as often as needed.
Ecosystems are made up of biotic and abiotic elements. Biotic factors are living organisms within an ecosystem, such as plants, animals, and bacteria. Abiotic factors are non-living components of an ecosystem, such as water, soil, and atmosphere. The way these components interact is crucial. Plants that are healthy and well-nourished are better able to withstand both biotic and abiotic stresses. Plant nutrient absorption is influenced by active soil biology. The available carbon of the soil is often disregarded, but it is critical to soil health. Because free carbon nourishes microbiology, it is essential to maintain soil biology.
Soil is the foundation of everything we do in agriculture. Unfortunately, the cost of supplies is continually rising, while the quality of farmland water is deteriorating. To alleviate these issues, a sound nutritional program must prioritize soil health as its top goal. Understanding the connections between ecosystem function and soil health, as well as the impact of human interventions, will allow for more sustainable and productive agriculture.
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Ferticell™ provides a multi-faceted strategy to managing poor quality water and preparing soils for it by combining a low-rate, organic liquid calcium such as Calcium 880Plus™ or dry powder calcium with ProCal™ with a weak acid like Absolute Acid™. When growers make soil health their priority, they are better prepared for poor water quality in sustainable agriculture and they learn to work with what they have, letting the soil labor for them.