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Improving soil and crop development Sweetwater International’s patented machine, the Sweetwater Solution (SS™), has proven extremely effective in reducing alkalinity as well as carbonates and bicarbonates in irrigation water. When this treated water is used to irrigate crops grown in soils that have high levels of sodium and salt build up, it leaches out those salts and allows the water and nutrients to be more readily taken up by plants. The result is that both the quantity and quality of crops can increase substantially. In addition to decreasing alkalinity in water and soil by lowering the level of bicarbonates, there are several secondary benefits from water acidification via the SS™ process. These include: 1/ decreased tillage costs due to more friable soil, 2/ deeper and longer lasting water penetration, 3/ lower water pH levels, 4/ increased availability of sulfur as a nutrient, 5/ decreased calcium carbonate buildup in irrigation pipes, 6/ reduced prevalence of insects, fungus, moss and/or algae. Many of these secondary benefits can be quite substantial depending on how the farm is irrigated and/or the type of crops grown. Tilth Unlocking sodium and allowing it to flow down and out of the soil profile, leaves a much more porous and permeable soil behind. This soil is more easily tilled and prepared for planting, which reduces tillage costs both in terms of time and wear and tear on machinery. Deeper water penetration Water availability throughout the entire root zone is essential for root development and total plant growth. Generally speaking, the deeper the water penetration, the deeper the roots will grow in search of that water. Deep roots translate into strong plants and healthy crops. With application of the SS™ treated irrigation water, the soil becomes more porous, which allows water to pass more freely through it and to greater depth. Every irrigation with SS™ treated water will increase the depth to which water can flow. Deeper and longer lasting water penetration means that a greater percentage of water actually becomes available to the plant throughout the root zone. In this way, it greatly increases the efficacy of irrigations. Over time, this can translate into significant water savings by reducing the frequency or duration of irrigation sessions needed to sustain optimal plant growth. The head farmer at Castle Valley Ranch in Emery County, Utah, USA wrote Sweetwater International to tell of his experience using the SS™ machine. “This land contains large amounts of alkali (alkalinity). It was very hard to even get 2-3 tons an acre (of alfalfa). But later in 1995, I was introduced to a sulfur machine. It went from 2-3 tons an acre to 3-4 tons an acre. The next year it jumped from 3-4 tons an acre to 5-6 tons an acre. The sulfur also helps the hard water go deeper into the ground and softens the ground to let more water go even deeper underneath and reach the plant’s root to help the plant grow healthier and stronger.” pH levels Acid loving plants such as berries thrive in low pH water. Furthermore, when the pH level is dropped below 6.0 many of the weeds that compete with these plants are less successful, which gives the acid loving plants greater access to nutrients and minerals in the soil and more room to expand. The SS™ machine has the capacity to reduce pH levels well below 6.0 if so desired. Below is a statement from a cranberry farm in Wisconsin, USA explaining the results of operating the SS™ machine to lower the pH of their water. “We have just finished our 2000 harvest and harvested over 1 million pounds of cranberries. Last year our total production was just 180,000 pounds. The increase is unbelievable. The quality of the fruit also improved greatly. The bud set for 2001 looks exceptional. We sincerely believe our crops will continue to increase. In addition to the above we have reduced the overall cost of running the marsh. Our fertilizer and chemical costs are down greatly. Again we credit your machine and proper pH as the most significant factor Sulfur as a nutrient Sulfur is an essential nutrient for all plants, but because it is required in smaller amounts than the major elements and in much greater quantities than micronutrients, it is classified as a secondary element. Plants require adequate supplies of sulfur for nitrogen metabolism. In particular, plants that produce protein, such as legumes may benefit significantly from an increased availability of sulfur as a nutrient. Sulfur is required in building protein and is an essential component of amino acids. Inadequate sulfur can result in lower protein content, off color crops, and lower yields. The president of a Utah dairy tells of his experience switching to hay grown using the SS™ machine. “I started using hay that had been grown by a rancher using Sweetwater’s technology and found that my milk production increased significantly. At first I wasn’t sure it was the hay, so I instructed my workers to substitute the feed with some other hay that had been grown locally and found an 8% drop in production within days. Because my workers bonus structure is directly tied to the cows' milk production, they begged me to allow them to feed them the better hay to return to the increases they had been experiencing. We have been very pleased with the higher quality of feed for our cows.” Irrigation Pipes When galvanized steel irrigation pipes are used to carry alkaline water, calcium carbonate can begin to build up at or near the sprinkler heads or emitters. Over time, the calcium carbonate corrodes the pipes and decreases their efficiency. This is a leading cause for premature equipment replacement where effluent water is used for irrigation. When alkaline water is replaced with slightly acidic water, the calcium carbonate is prevented from building up in new pipes and may be reduced in existing pipes. Improving the quality of water running through the pipes of pivots, wheel, drip, or traditional sprinkler irrigation systems can be a cost-effective way of protecting the substantial monetary and time investment made in irrigation equipment. Fungus, insects, algae, pests and/or rodents By lowering the pH of the water and soil and increasing the amount of sulfur in the soil, an environment is created that is less conducive to many types of fungi, insects, algae, pests and/or rodents. Many users of the SS™ have noticed a reduced need for pest controlling measures when applying SO2 treated irrigation water. Below are three time-elapsed photos of a lake at a Salt Lake City, Utah golf course that began using the SS™ machine to treat the lake water that was then used for irrigation purposes.
Day 1 - installation at a Salt Lake City Golf Course After the Sweetwater Solution Generator™ was installed the secondary effects of the lowered pH and the reductions in dissolved oxygen resulted in the removal of algae, which had bloomed in the lake and was unsightly.
Day 10 - after installation
Day 21 - after installation After 21 days of lower pH treated water passing through the lake it was free of excess algae and looked much more beautiful than before.
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Rapid population growth combined withincreased industrial and commercial uses of water worldwide over the last half century have depleted many existing sources of high quality water and forced many areas to turn to effluent water as the primary source for irrigation water. In many places throughout the world where this has occurred there has been a noticeable increase in the amount of soil affected by excess alkalinity and a marked increase in the incidence of sodic and/or saline/sodic soil conditions. Soil experts recognize this trend as a real threat to the agricultural industries in many regions of the world. This is because saline/sodic and/or sodic soils are much less productive than they otherwise could be. Population growth requires greater crop production, so the urgency of solving this issue will only increase.
