DRYJECT

Injecting Profile Porous Ceramic Greens Grade

Inject and Amend in One Pass

● Minimal SURFACE Disruption

● Fracturing & Shattering Around and Between Holes.

Core Aerifier Hole

DryJect Holes

Aquaphix Training Module

Aquaphix Training Module Summary

• Discuss soil pH• What is Aquaphix?• Discuss soil structure, bicarbonates & salts• Aquaphix Product Line – review literature• Research & data

Alkaline Soils• pH above 7.3 negatively affect plant health in

two ways

– High pH reduces nutrient availability and uptake

– Associated bicarbonate and salt build up reduce water infiltration

• Alkalinity is typically caused by the natural soil or the irrigation water source – Effluent or hard water brings alkalinity, bicarbonates

and salts far beyond what natural soil flushing can deter

pH Affects Nutrient Uptake

6.3 – 7.3 is the sweet spot for optimal nutrient

availability, uptake and ultimately plant health

As you can see in the chart, Nutrient availability tapers off according to pH

levels

Pink, Purple and Green, a new Market

Irrigation water is primary source of bicarbonate and salt issues

At the right you can see that hard water is an issue across most of the US.

pH and bicarbonate issues occur even in yellow areas and are based on local conditions

Basics of Bicarbonate and Salts

• Bicarbonate increases sodium build up in soils by precipitating calcium and magnesium as carbonate, which have extremely low solubility.

• As Ca and Mg are tied up, Na accumulates in soil causing sealing and poor water infiltration to occur.

• Improvement is accomplished either by the increase of calcium or the decrease of bicarbonate.

• When water causes soil permeability problems, the water can be improved by the addition of amendments. – Amendments do not have to be added directly to the water, but

can be applied to soil on which the water is to be used.

Basics of Bicarbonate and Salts

How are alkaline soils treated?

• Current Practices– Sulfur is added to the soil

• Converted to sulfuric acid by biological activity in soil

– Acid injection• Urea/sulfuric acid blend injected into the irrigation system

– Sulfur burners• Sulfur is burned and fumes scrubbed with water to form

sulfurous acid

• Provides a safe and effective way to maintain proper pH in the root zone and manage bicarbonates and sodium

• Aqua-pHix products are non-corrosive, safe around people and equipment

• Can apply only where needed

Aqua-pHixAqua-pHix

Aqua-pHix™Product Characteristics

• Proprietary liquid formulation of self-buffering, chelated organic & inorganic acids– Blend of Hydrochloric, Phosphoric, Oxalic

and Citric acids

• Non-hazardous & non-corrosive • Effective for 3-6 months

– Precipitation dependent

Soil Structure & Chemistry Overview

Soil clay particles can be unattached to one another (dispersed) or clumped together (flocculated) in aggregates. Soil aggregates are cemented clusters of sand, silt, and clay particles.

Dispersed Particles Flocculated Particles

Flocculation is important because water moves mostly in large pores between aggregates. Also, plant roots grow mainly between aggregates.

In all but the sandiest soils, dispersed clays plug soil pores and impede water infiltration and soil drainage.

Most clay particles have a negative electrical charge. Like charges repel, so clay particles repel one another.

Negatively charged clay particle

Negatively charged clay particle

A cation is a positively charged molecule. Common soil cations include sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), magnesium (Mg2+), and calcium (Ca2+).

Cations can make clay particles stick together (flocculate).

Negatively charged clay particle

Negatively charged clay particle

++

Flocculating Cations

• We can divide cations into two categories– Poor flocculators

• Sodium

– Good flocculators• Calcium

• Magnesium

IonRelative Flocculating

Power

Sodium Na+ 1.0

Potassium K+ 1.7

Magnesium Mg2+ 27.0

Calcium Ca2+ 43.0

Sumner and Naidu, 1998

Sodium Adsorption Ratio

The ratio of ‘bad’ to ‘good’ flocculators gives an indication of the relative status of these cations:

Na+++

+ + ++

+

Ca2+ and Mg2+++

++++++++++

++

Mathematically, this is expressed as the ‘sodium adsorption ratio’ or SAR:

where concentrations are expressed in mmoles/L

SAR = [Na+]

[Ca2+] + [Mg2+]

Ca2+ and Mg2+Na+

SAR

EC

Aggregate stability (dispersion and flocculation) depends on the balance (SAR) between (Ca2+ and Mg2+) and Na+ as well as the amount of soluble salts (EC) in the soil.

Flocculated soil

Dispersed soil

++++++

++++

++

+ + +++++

+

+

Lower EC Higher EC

Na+

SAR

EC

Soil particles will flocculate if concentrations of (Ca2+ + Mg2+) are increased relative to the concentration of Na+ (SAR is decreased).

Flocculated soil

Dispersed soil

+

++

Ca2+ and Mg2+

++

++++

++++

++++

++++

++

Na+

SAR

EC

Flocculated soil

Dispersed soil

+

++

Ca2+ and Mg2+

++++++

Soil particles will disperse if concentrations of (Ca2+ + Mg2+) are decreased relative to the concentration of Na+ (SAR is increased).

++

+

+

Soil Classification EC SAR Condition

Normal <4 <13 Flocculated

Saline >4 <13 Flocculated

Sodic <4 >13 Dispersed

Saline-Sodic >4 >13 Flocculated

Soils can be classified by the amount of soluble salts (EC) and sodium status (SAR). This classification can tell us something about soil structure.

Observe your soil - Observe your soil - sodic soils often crack sodic soils often crack

when drywhen dry

Na+

SAR

EC

Increasing soluble calcium improves aggregate stability in soils with poor structure.

Flocculated soil

Dispersed soil

+

++

Ca2+

++

++++

++++

++++

++++

++

GypsumCaSO4

SO42-

pH? > 7

yes

Ca + Mg < HCO3?

No Problem

< 7

GypsumFrom soil or added

Aqua-pHixNo Problem

Sodium? yes

No

No Problem

No

pHHardness ( ppm )Hardness (grains/gal)Conductivity (mmhos/cm)Sodium Adsorp. RatioAdjusted SARpHcResidual Sodium Carbonate (RSC)

7.84292.48

17.101.142.916.407.20

-0.40

(ppm) meq/l lbs/ac in

Calcium (Ca) 89.09 4.45 20.20

Magnesium (Mg) 16.83 1.38 3.82Potassium (K) 18.85 0.48 4.28

Sodium (Na) 114.19 4.96 25.90Iron (Fe) 0.42 0.09

Total Alkalinity (CaCO3) 271.32 61.54

Carbonate (CO3) 0.00

Bicarbonate (HCO3) 331.06 5.43 75.08Hydroxide (OH) 0.00

Chloride (Cl) 167.99 4.74 38.10

Sulfur as (S04) 54.36 1.13 12.33

Salt Concentration (TDS) 730.88 165.76

• Maximizes plant establishment and density• Immediately begins to decrease pH of soil

solution• Dissolves bicarbonate & displaces sodium• Improves nutrient availability• Improves water penetration • Loosens soil for increased root activity• Safe for people, animals, plants & equipment• Assists vegetative establishment in calcareous

saline soils

Aqua-pHix™Benefits

• Packaging and Pricing– 50# bag, 40 per 1 ton pallet - Granular Bag

• Application – 2 options– Top-dress - Monthly applications for consistent

management• See sell sheet for rate chart• Spread evenly across surface, irrigation flush the green to

activate– Aeration - Applied once for longer term fix (months)

• 200# per 1000 sq. ft. per application• May be mixed with sand

Granular FormulaGranular Formula

• Packaging – 2 – 2.5 gal jugs per case

• Application – 2 – 8 gal per acre per month typically– Always use with salt flush programs– Maintain dilution ratio of 25:1 H2O:product– Load and apply as with other spray products– Non-Hazardous– Contains no Nitrogen or Sulfur– Excellent spray buffer– Adjust tank solution to 5.5– Do not use with JumpStart– Do not tank mix with pesticides, fertilizers and/or JumpStart– Aqua-pHix will not harm sprayer parts including copper, brass and

aluminum except where zinc is present (diluted won’t harm zinc)– Allow newly seeded areas to establish prior to applying

Spray FormulaSpray Formula

• Packaging - 2 – 2.5 gal jugs per case• MSDS and technical information available on

www.profileproducts.com

Aqua-pHix™Specs

• Application Rates

• Packaging and Pricing– 55 gal barrel - Fertigation Label

• Application– Monthly soil flush– Inject into Fertigation system similarly to other products– Aqua-pHix will not harm irrigation parts including copper, brass

and aluminum

Fertigation FormulaFertigation Formula

Injection

• Irrigation system maintenance– Inject once per month– Adjust water to 4.5– Keep in irrigation system 24 hours

• Flush cycle aid– Safety– Corrosivity– Volume determined by water test or pH meter– Assume 1 gal/ 10,000 gal H2O

• Aqua-pHix has been proven safe and effective through multiple research and test trials:

– Efficacy – Turf Diagnostics laboratory testing of Hydro Formula on test cores• 81% reduction in salt ppm• pH 7.8 reduced to 6.23 (average of 3 plots)

– Efficacy – Brookside labs tested Aqua-pHix Granular for long term acid release at Grapevine TX, golf course trial

• 60% reduction in soluble salts• 75% reduction in bicarbonates• 52% reduction in sodium• 37% reduction in soil test sodium• 77% reduction in sulfur

– Phytotoxicity – 3rd party testing commissioned by manufacturer• Did not cause turf burn at 2.5 times maximum recommended rate

For more specific information on testing, click hereAqua-pHix Testing Info

Aqua-pHix™Research

Turf Diagnostics – Product Efficacy

• A .5 % solution of Aqua-pHix was prepared by diluting Aqua-pHix into tap water (pH 7.30) resulting in a 2.31 pH solution. Three inch Core samples were taken from Traditions Golf Club for testing.

• A leaching volume of the Aqua-pHix was applied followed by 12 leachings with tap water.

• Leachate was collected and tested for pH and total salt content.

• TDS Tap water 1030 ppm, .5% Aqua-pHix TDS 1280 ppm in Leachate, 2nd flush EC drops to 833 ppm, significant qty of salt was flushed from soil profile.

• Electrical conductivity, TDS / 640 = EC Exp; Tap water EC = 1.6 – EC Above 3 is very bad, > 7 is toxic to plants Sea Water is 55

leachate pH

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

4 5 6 7 8

pH

nu

mb

er o

f p

ou

rs

Series1

Turf DiagnosticsTurf Diagnostics

Total salts in leachate

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Pours

Sal

ts Series1

Turf DiagnosticsTurf Diagnostics

Profile/Aqua-pHix DryJect TrialGrapevine G C

• Aqua-phix was impregnated on Greens Grade Profile at 18 gallons per ton

• DryJect applied at 200 Lbs. / 1000 sq. ft.• Soil samples were taken 4 times over 105 days• All samples were run by Brookside labs• Paste extract and standard soil test results

Grapevine Nursery

Untreated water pH ppm Salt7.7 294

.125% Aqua-pHix 3.4 640

Samplessoil measurementscheck 7.8 70.4

1 6.2 12.82 6.4 12.83 6.1 12.8

Leachate check 7.7 108

1 4.8 4542 4.7 4543 4.7 467

Procedure

•Four 6” diameter cores 3” deep were pulled.

•Aqua-pHix was applied at 1 pint per 100 gallons of water (.125% Solution.

•Plots were watered to field capacity at the 3” depth.

•Measurements were taken of the Leachate and of the cores 2 hours after application.

Duplication Proof @ Grapevine TXDuplication Proof @ Grapevine TX

60% Reduction

435 410

160 173

0

100

200

300

400

500

PP

M

Soluble Salts

Soluble Salts

26-Sep12-Oct2-Nov10-Jan

75% Reduction

158

144

65

40

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

ppm

Bicarbonate

Bicarbonate

26-Sep12-Oct2-Nov10-Jan

52 % Reduction

25

21

1112

0

5

10

15

20

25

ppm

Sodium

Sodium

26-Sep12-Oct2-Nov10-Jan

Your Trusted Partners in Soil Solutions™

1-800-207-6457www.profileproducts.com

Thank you!