There is no substitute for water.
During early growth, a plant is over 90% water by weight, making water essential for the survival and growth of all plants. If there is no water in the soil, plants will not grow. The challenge for the farmer is to manage the water that is in the soil (either rainfall or irrigation) for optimal use by the plant. In corn, for example, the period leading up to tasseling and silking is critical for getting high yields. Hot, dry conditions will rapidly deplete soil water and result in reduced yields. Thus the need for maintaining soil moisture prior to and during this critical growth phase is a challenge. Furthermore, as water resources become more limited globally, the availability of irrigation water is becoming limited as urban use requires more water for human consumption. Water Use Efficiency (WUE) is a pressing issue for both agriculture and environmental stewardship broadly.
Adjuvants Unlimited has long been producing irrigation aids for specialty crops including turf and irrigated potatoes. We have now taken on the challenge of how to effectively apply these product types to large-acre crops such as corn and soybeans. The challenge is complex. Can the product fit into existing management practices? Will it be affordable for corn and soybeans? Will it work consistently? The results of several years of field trials with corn and soybeans show our new technology under development has the potential to increase crop yields when applied at the right time in the right way. Currently, we are expanding the ways to apply these products for ease of use and maximum crop response. These products do not neatly fit into a traditional adjuvant definition, but are carving out an entirely new adjuvant definition for this emerging market. As responsible use of water continues to be at the forefront of sustainability conversations, we are excited to be engaged in cutting-edge WUE work.
Want to learn more about WUE? Reach out to us.
