Boron, sodium levels sharply decline in Turkey apple orchard

Boron, sodium levels sharply decline in Turkey apple orchard

Almula Tarim has been growing apples successfully in Turkey since 1999. The company’s 740-acre orchard is located in Ulukışla, in the south-central part of the country. The winters there are cold and snowy, and the summers are warm and dry – perfect conditions for growing the tart, shiny green Granny Smith apples.

What hasn’t always been perfect is the farm’s well water. Among other things, it contains high levels of boron and salt. Both are common elements found in soils and water supplies around the world. But too much of either can inhibit plant growth, fruit set and leaf development.

Like growers everywhere, the owners of Almula Tarim have tried various methods of reducing the boron and salt levels, including leaching, with limited success. They need a better, more effective alternative.

After more than 60 years in business, Almula Tarim has developed a reputation for its willingness to test and implement new technologies in its citrus groves and apple orchards. That mindset toward innovation led them to Aqua4D Water Solutions earlier this year. Could Aqua4D’s system provide an environmentally safe way to permanently address the boron and salt situation?

Validation process provides quantifiable, reliable data

As it does with all clients, Aqua4D arranged a side-by-side test, or validation.

One apple orchard would be irrigated with well water treated with Aqua4D’s electromagnetic system; the other orchard would receive untreated water from the same well.

The orchards were chosen for their similarities – EC soil readings of 8.9, boron levels of 5.44 mg/liter in water and 8, 16 mg/kg in the soil, and sodium levels of 13.5% in water and 570 mg/kg in the soil.

The Aqua4D system was installed on Aug. 4, 2017. On Sept. 28 – less than two months later – significant and important differences already could be measured between the orchards via a foliar analysis of leaves from the trees that received treated water as well as those in the control orchard that didn’t.

The results were outstanding – and surprised the experienced scientists who conducted the analysis.  For the first time, they could observe a boron reduction of more than 70% in the leaves in the treated area. By comparison, boron increased by 122% in the untreated plants– after only two months of irrigation with poor water.

Similarly, the quantity of sodium in the leaves diminished by 94% in the treated trees while it increased by nearly 300% in the non-treated orchard.

Scientists also observed an increase of calcium and magnesium – critical elements for plant growth – of    25% and 14%, respectfully, in the treated orchard. Conversely, in the untreated orchard, there was a calcium reduction of 53% and just a slight increase in magnesium levels.

This demonstrates the capacity of the trees to select the right ions for its growth and to decline the absorption of the more toxic ions, thanks to the Aqua4D system.

This is very interesting considering the very poor quality of the water. Aqua4D consistently has shown its unique capability to transform the feeding conditions for plants – regardless of water quality – without adding or taking out chemicals from the water.

Tested, proven results from around the world

The spectacular results in Almula’s apple orchards are not unique.

For more than a decade, Aqua4D has partnered with some of the biggest and most sophisticated agribusiness companies across the globe to deliver permanent solutions to growers frustrated by poor water or soil conditions.

Aqua4D entered the California market two years ago and already has had a significant and positive impact on nuts, vegetables grown in the San Joaquin and Salinas valleys. The company’s insistence on scientifically based “before and after” comparisons provides the empirical data savvy growers depend upon to make wise investments.

Like in Turkey, there are regions of California’s fertile farming regions that suffer from issues related to boron in the water or soil, or high salinity levels. Clients have come to appreciate that Aqua4D provides a safe, reliable and permanent solution to a myriad of problems.

A new soil salinity solution

Aqua4D’s system uses an electromagnetic system to treat water before it is applied to fields, vineyards or orchards. The methodology is complex, but the results are immediate:

• Water emerges that has been permanently transformed. It looks the same, but its characteristics are ideal for plants and the soil.
• Measureable reductionsin soil salinity often can be seen in less than a month with continuous use of the system. Salt and other mineral crystals gradually are dissolved and transported by the treated water below the rhizosphere, allowing for sustainable cultivation.
• Positive plan reaction is swift. Application of the Aqua4D water changes the way a plant behaves, allowing it to better absorb water and the elements within it in the proper amounts.

Growers of tomatoes in Italy and pomegranates in Africa have seen permanent reductions in soil salinity using the Aqua4D system. In Israel, a study involving peppers showed positive results in yield, water reduction and plant nutrient absorption.  Research in France showed the Aqua4D technology reduced clogging in micro-drip systems.

There are other benefits to the Aqua4D system:

• Water usage can be reduced by as much as 25% and fertilizer application up to 30%.
• Crop yields go up as much as 20% while labor and production costs often are reduced, creating a quick ROI.
• Nematodes are repelled by the treated water.
• There is no maintenance, no lost water, and no brine or other leftovers to manage.
• There are no magnets or filters to replace, and no dangerous chemicals to handle.
• It treats surface water or groundwater supplies and adapts to virtually all drip or sprinkler irrigation systems.
• It uses only a small amount of electricity and can be solar-powered.

Aqua4D is actively recruiting far-sighted agribusinessmen to conduct validation studies of nut, citrus or stone fruit orchards, vineyards and row crops. Interested growers should contact Phillip Moreland at (805) 345-9926 or moreland@aqua4d.com.