This test was installed in Izmir (Bergama city) in a private Cotton field – The goal was to define the impact of FLOBOND DI2010 Water Saver on Cotton yield with the same amount of water.
It had no precipitation during this test, as usual in this area, the climate is Mediterranean
The variables studied were the distribution of vertical soil moisture (capacitive probes), and productivity (Yield).
The trial was carried out under the supervision of the farm owner and the local SNF Turkish Agronomist.
METHODOLOGY
- Field production conditions (Drip irrigated)
– 50 L/ha (5.5./Acre) applied from June 27th to July 27th (20 + 10 + 20 L/ha) - Water applied in 2 months:
21 717 m3/ha or 2322 x 1000 gal/ac - Clayey-Loamy to Loamy soils with high leaching
- Treated acreage 3.5 ha (8.7 Acre)
The cotton grower evaluated the difference in terms of strength / size and growth of the crop. The photo in the lower left corner was taken during a field visit after the third application of FLOBOND DI2010. The photo easily shows how the treated part (right) is homogeneous and the spaces between rows disappeared. The control on the left part is not growing as easily as the treated, we still saw the space between rows. Indeed, without the FOBOND DI2010, irrigation water leached too deep and was not retained in the upper layer. We can observe the charts from moisture probes on the page 2 of this document, where the monitoring of 3 different soil layers moisture on both control and treated are shown.
Conclusion
FLOBOND DI2010 WaterSaver ,increases the hydraulic conductivity of soil by protecting soil aggregates from collapsing. It enhances the horizontal movement of water so more water is kept in plan root zone area.
The BLUE curves show the soil (0-20 cm) is more often wet in the treated part than the control, which is often at 250 kPa, indicating, soil is fully dry.
PURPLE/Pink curves shows moisture at 20-40 cm, at the plant root zone. On the treated this curve never totally reaches 0 kPa, soils is not saturated, so oxygen can still enter plant root zone.
The black curve on treated shows soil at 40-60 cm progressively dried between two irrigations, while the blue line on control show that water leached so the 40-60 cm layer never dry and root probably suffocate.
The distribution of water is been better with FLOBON DI2010.
