O3 Ag Science Systems

O3 Ag Science offers products for all facets of agriculture.

• Ozone water treatment systems: for buildings, wells and livestock drinking water.

• Ozone grow systems: for field irrigation systems, Green Houses, Hydroponics grow systems, Aquaponics, ETC.

• Ozone disinfection systems: for storage and processing facilities, including beef, poultry, dairy, fish, grain, potato, beet, fruits and vegetables and more.

O3 Ag Science products will put profit back in agriculture.

General Information on Ozone Water Treatment

• Ozone eliminates the color caused by iron, manganese, organics and other substances. It also eliminates odors and flavors due to the organic and non-organic materials present.
  

• Ozone reduces solids in suspension (cloudiness) and the chemical and biological demands of oxygen. It can also eliminate detergents and other non-biodegradable active substances. The amount of elimination will depend on the amount of ozone used.
  

• Ozone is a powerful disinfectant. It not only kills the pathogenic bacteria and also inactivates viruses and other micro-organisms that are not sensitive to ordinary chlorine disinfection.

• Ozonization is less expensive and safer than the use of chemicals
  

• As a treatment of secondary effluents, ozonization is considerably cheaper than using activated carbon.
  

• Provided no further contamination is introduced after treatment the ozone residue is sufficient to carry out any required sanitation.
  

• Ozone is detectable before reaching any intoxicating level.
  

• Ozone does not cause the increase in inorganic salts nor are harmful byproducts found in water after treatment.

Our proprietary ozone systems will;

• Promote rapid, healthy, vigorous and bountiful plant growth.

• Reduce the amount of water, fertilizer and pesticide needed for healthy plants.

• Disinfect any building, including processing facilities, storage facilities, potato/beet barns, dairy facilities and more……

O3 Ag Science Grow Systems

Ozone water is the best thing that you can give to a plant.

O3 Science Inc. is a leader in ozone science and technology. Our proprietary ozone injection systems have reduced the price and complexity of ozone agricultural systems. O3 Science, Inc Agricultural Systems will promote fast growing, healthy, more abundant crops using less water, less fertilizer and less pesticide. Putting profit back in agriculture.

Not all ozone systems are equal. Our new ozone technology is delivering 10-20% higher yield with 10-18% more nutrition and the fields require 10-20% less water. We use the most powerful form of ozone to achieve these results. We Do not use weak molecule ozone, UV Systems don’t work.

O3 Science, Inc. understands the science behind plant growth. Our systems condition your irrigation water, so it is perfect for optimum plant growth. Our systems turn organics and chemicals in the water into plant food and deliver them to the root zone with a large amount of dissolved oxygen.

Our proprietary ozone injection technology simplifies ozone injection. This simplicity greatly reduces the cost of adding ozone to your fields. Our system injects 5- micron ozone bubbles into any irrigation line. The small bubble size allows for maximum ozone contact with the water. Ozone injected into farm and hydroponic water systems will increase the dissolved oxygen content of the water to super saturation levels. High dissolved oxygen (DO) is the #1 indicator of healthy water for plants.

When you understand the science of ozone you will understand how O3 Science, Inc. Agricultural Systems will increase your crop income by saving money and reduced water, fertilizer and pesticide, and at the same time increasing crop yields.

• Ozone water is anti-bacterial and anti-fungal. Ozone water has been proven to oxidize bacteria, mold and fungus on contact. Bacteria, mold and fungus, the most destructive pathogens of plants, are eliminated by ozone water. The powerful ozone oxidizes these pathogens into their basic elements. This oxidized material is readily absorbed by plants as plant food.

• Ozone oxidizes salts, chemicals and contaminants in water. Ozone turns chemicals into inert elements and organics into nitrates and nitrites that become easily absorbed plant food. For nitrogen to be useful for plant health and growth, it must be oxidized into nitrates and nitrites. This can be performed by the plant; however, it requires energy from the plant. Plants save energy when ozone oxidizes the nitrogen, this saved energy is redirected toward rapid healthy growth.

• Ozone chelates minerals in the water. Chelation fractures minerals into sub-micron sized minerals that are easily absorbed by plants for nutrition. Again, plants can chelate minerals, but it takes energy away from growth. Plants readily absorb chelated minerals and redirect energy saved to healthy rapid growth.

• Ozone water is pH balanced. Ozone oxidizes organics and chemicals in irrigation water and returns the water to a pH of 7.2 – 7.6. This pH is perfect for maximum plant growth. Ozone neutralizes the pH of the water. Plants selectively use water that is not in the preferred pH range. When the plants reject some water because of pH issues, more water is required.

• Ozone water provides a high level of dissolved oxygen to the root system. Roots require oxygen to be healthy and grow rapidly. The high DO level of ozonated water provides the root system with large amounts of oxygen that is needed for healthy, rapid growth.

• Ozone water reduces the amount of water needed to grow crops. The combination of pH balanced water high in dissolved oxygen, with readily available nitrates, nitrites and chelated minerals dramatically reduces the amount of water needed to grow healthy abundant crops.

• Ozone water is wetter water. O3 (Ozone) is 13 times more soluble than O2 in water. Water that has high DO levels is absorbed into the soil far more rapidly than untreated water. Ozone water breaks thru bound up soil because ozone reduces the hydrostatic tension of the water.

• Ozone water destroys biofilm in pipes. Biofilm spreads bacteria and absorbs oxygen out of the water lowering the DO levels as water travels through the pipes. Ozone has been proven to destroy biofilm. Pipes free of biofilm deliver more DO to the plants and kill bacteria that effect plant health.

• Ozone is a natural pesticide. Ozone destroys insect eggs and larva. Adult insects have a natural dislike for ozone and will vacate the area that is treated with ozone. Case Studies with proven results.

O3 Science, Inc. Ozone Water Systems

Hydroponics and irrigation water

Because ozone is such an effective oxidant to treat water for hydroponic and irrigation applications, We have many farmers that have implemented ozone systems on their farms. The hydroponic farmers in particular are a very close community and therefore the technology is and has been spread by word of mouth. Fieldwork on hydroponic farms has shown that the success of ozone treatment is directly related to the volume of water in a recirculating system, the flow rate, and the number of plants the system supports. The hydroponics and greenhouse industries have been utilizing ozone generators very successfully for years to reduce pollen, mold, viruses, bacteria, air pollution, etc. Our ozone creates a much healthier environment resulting in higher profits and lower maintenance costs. There is great opportunity to market this technology.

 

Projects: ( Just a few of the systems we have out of many)

• A hydroponic grow container using ozone water and ozone gas has grown 8” sprouts with 2” root mass from seed in 6 days. The first crop grew so rapidly that it plugged up the machine, so the grow was shortened from 6 days to 5 days. Over 95% of the seeds germinated. Many seeds had ½” of root growth in 9 hours after being placed in the grow trays. The fodder was measured to be 18% more nutritious than previous grows and contained no mold or fungus.

• A greenhouse grower in central Utah had to thin out his tomato, squash, cucumber, peppers and other plants so the plants would remain upright. The crop yield was larger than any previous grow. Greenhouse growers are getting 10-20% higher yields with the addition of O3 Ag systems. Mold and fungus is also eliminated by the system.

• A 120-acre alfalfa field with a 1300-1700 gallon per minute flow pivot irrigation system was able to increase its yield by 10-20% while reducing its water by 10-15% with no added fertilizer or pesticide in a drought year. Irrigation water had a pH of 13 at the well. The pH of the ozone irrigation water was 7.4. The ORP, amount of oxygen in the water, went from 230 at the well to 550 at the end of the pivot. The grow time was reduced from 6 weeks to 5 weeks. The farmer believes he will get a 5^th crop this year. 4 crops are the norm.

• A cannabis grower in Oregon has seen their plants almost double in size with the addition of ozone water to their grow strategy. The grower’s plants have historically been harvested at about 8’ of growth. After ozone was added, their plants were 14’ tall with 2 months left in the grow cycle.

Small water treatment plants

Water, when untreated, often contains undesirable sediments, unwanted colors, and residual tastes and odors which may be successfully removed by treatment with ozone. Treatment of drinking water with ozone disinfects the water by killing bacteria and inactivating viruses present in the water. In addition to this, the oxidative properties of ozone are useful for the following purposes:

• Oxidation of iron and manganese
• Color removal
•Taste and odor removal
• Algae control
• Oxidation of cyanides
• Oxidation of Sulfides
• Oxidation of Nitrites
• Oxidation/Removal of Arsenic

• Coagulation Assistance

The amounts of ozone applied for water treatment depend on a number of factors:

• The purpose(s) for which ozone is applied
• The number of applications points in the line
• The degree of contamination of the raw water to be treated
• The ozone demand of the water at the point(s) of treatment
• The temperature and pH of the water being ozonated

SP Water Treatment System

The SP Water Treatment System injects powerful ozone into your culinary water line. Ozone oxidizes organics and chelates minerals in the water. The water is then filtered with a 5-micron carbon filter. The result is water that is soft, pH balanced and free of chemicals and organics. Soft and Pure (SP) water has many applications for good health and wellness in people and animals.

Drinking water. The purpose of drinking water is to hydrate the body. To properly hydrate the body, water must meet the bodies standards. Humans, plants and animals require pH balanced water that is 7.2-7.6 pH in range. Water that is outside that range is selectively rejected outside of that range. Ozone water is naturally pH balanced to 7.4. Bodies that are properly hydrated are healthier and perform better than poorly hydrated bodies. Our ozone trough systems provide fresh, healthy, pH balanced water to livestock.

O3 Science, Inc. Agriculture Disinfection / Sanitation systems.

O3 Science, Inc. has developed ozone water and ozone gas enhanced disinfection systems that are added to your existing Sanitation Plan. Our systems utilize ozone’s powerful disinfection properties to eliminate pathogens. Ozone is the world’s safest and most powerful disinfectant. Our enhanced disinfection systems give you an added layer of protection against disease, recalls and spoilage.

A great potential for ozone is in bottling plants for the sanitation of bottles prior to filling. The sanitizing properties of ozone are obtained nearly instantly, and no unwanted byproducts are produced. The unit rinses bottles with four times the concentration of ozone water that is needed to kill bacteria, viruses, spores and algae. All of this is done without leaving unwanted soap residues, tastes or odors in the bottle. Another application in this field is for sanitizing fill lines and vessels.

These are treated with water containing ozone after shift shutdown. The next day the lines are clean and safe to drain, as the ozone has disappeared. Another popular application of ozone is for crate and container washing. Shipping and container companies spend vast amounts of money on chemicals to clean, disinfect and deodorize large containers. A direct ozone spray system makes it easy to wash containers, crates, barrels and tanks, clean walls and floors, and sanitize drains using ozonated water.

 

Advantages of this method include:

It saves time on heat up and cool down processes and saves hot water wear and tear on equipment.

• Will save time and money because using ozone reduces hot water usage, thus reducing energy consumption.

• Dissolved ozone is less harmful than hot water on gaskets (no noticeable deterioration of gaskets).

• Reduces harsh chemical/chlorine use.

• Dissolved ozone is not harmful to the environment.

• Dissolved ozone is a better sanitizer than chlorine.

• Ozone is a strong, powerful, scientifically proven oxidizer.

• Dissolved ozone is safer than chlorine or sulfur dioxide and other chemicals.

• Ozone kills all bacteria, viruses, mold, spores, yeast, mildew and fungus faster than hot water or chlorine.

• Microorganisms cannot build up a tolerance to ozone as they can (and do) to chlorine.

• Safe for multiple surfaces.

Ozone Processing Systems.

Processing of fish, meat, chicken, fruit and vegetables

The wide ranging possibilities for using ozone in the food industry and agriculture as well as in other fields, are created by its bacterial and germ killing power. Not only does it act as a germicide but as a spore-killing agent as well. A panel of experts from food science, ozone technology and other related fields granted Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status for ozone use in food processing. This GRAS status allows food processors to use ozone in their washing, handling and packaging processes. Ozonization is recommended from the first processing point, throughout cutting, packaging and transport including the point prior to consumption. Specialized applications include:

• Poultry processing
• Sanitizing packaging material
• Fruit and vegetable washing
• Washing of carcasses

• Increasing the storage life of perishable foods

Our processing systems offer enhanced disinfection for beef, pork, poultry, fish, fruit and vegetable and other processors. Again, a combination of water and air systems are used.

Ozone water disinfects walls, floors, animals, processed meat, saws, brushes, conveyors and other equipment.

Ozone gas disinfects buildings and rooms after standard sanitation plan is followed.

Disinfection of bottled water

Ozone is a cost effective disinfecting agent for bottled water. Ozone is used in water treatment for its oxidative qualities. Second only to fluorine in oxidation potential, ozone will oxidize both organic and inorganic substances; remove unwanted taste, odor and color; and provide effective disinfection. Ozone is extremely efficient as a bactericide, fungicide and viricide, killing even chlorine-resistant Cryptosporidium. It is also used for oxidation and removal of heavy metals such as iron and manganese. It will enable water bottlers to deliver a product that is free from bacteria and viruses, thereby extending the shelf life and product quality of the bottled water. As a result of increasing health awareness, this is a rapidly growing market, and the use of ozone for bottled
water can be marketed extensively.

SP-2 Water Disinfection System.

The SP-2 Water Treatment System treats water exactly like the SP Water Treatment System then reinjects ozone into the water stream to produce soft and pure water with active ozone. Active ozone water is up to 3,500 times stronger than bleach or chlorine without the harmful effects of chemical disinfectants. Ozone water will disinfect/sanitize anything that it touches. Water flow rates up to 30 gallons per minute can be treated for enhanced sanitation/ disinfection purposes.

Ozone Shock Disinfection System.

Ozone shock systems deliver a very high amount of ozone gas to the interior of a building or room. Our proprietary shock systems produce 30,000-45,000 mg of ozone per hour that will effectively disinfect up to 2,500 square feet. The Shock Systems can only be operated when the building/room is vacant for the duration of the treatment. The high quantity of ozone gas moves with the air to disinfect all areas that are exposed to air. The shock treatment will disinfect all surfaces, top, bottom, inside and out, to completely disinfect the treatment area. After treatment the ozone breaks down to clean oxygen and the area has a fresh smell like after a thunderstorm.

Ozone Dairy Sterilization Systems.

Ozone can be used in dairies as a gas that sterilizes the air, or in ozoninated water as a safer alternative to chlorinated water. Ozone is much more effective than routine cleaning methods. Swabs were taken from food processing tables, warehouses or area after routine cleaning with a chemical cleaning solution, and compared with swabs taken from an ozonated area. These tests show that ozone has a kill rate of 99.99%. Bacterial counts after routine cleaning methods showed their ineffectiveness in the prevention of cross-contamination and spoilage. Ozonated water has been shown as an effective alternative to chlorinated water in the disinfection of dairy equipment. Not only does it effectively destroy surface-attached bacteria, but requires no heat, and therefore uses less energy than sanitizing systems which use steam or hot water.

Our dairy systems combine SP-2 Water Treatment System and ozone shock disinfection systems.

• Active ozone water disinfects cows, walls, floors, milking machines and tanks.

• Ozone gas systems fill the dairy with ozone gas when it is unoccupied. Ozone gas reaches into and disinfects every nook and cranny for the highest level of enhanced disinfection possible.

 

Ozone Processing Systems.

Our processing systems offer enhanced disinfection for beef, pork, poultry, fish, fruit and vegetable and other processors. Again, a combination of water and air systems are used.

Ozone water disinfects walls, floors, animals, processed meat, saws, brushes, conveyors and other equipment.

Ozone gas disinfects buildings and rooms after standard sanitation plan is followed.

Ozone Storage Systems.

Our storage systems reduce spoilage by using ozone gas to kill bacteria, mold and fungus that spoil stored foods.

Ozone gas is injected into storage barns and silos. The gas destroys bacteria, mold and fungus, while at the same time killing insect larva and eggs. Adult insects have a natural dislike for ozone gas and will vacate the area. Storage facilities can have spoilage rates as high as 50%. Ozone Shock Treatments will dramatically lower the spoilage rate.

Cooling tower water treatment

Many times, aesthetics are the only problem preventing the use of groundwater for potable purposes. Although typically used as disinfectant, ozone offers the benefits of being a strong oxidizing agent. Due to its oxidizing power, ozone is used successfully to reduce aesthetically unpleasant color, taste and odor.

Conclusion

O3 Science, Inc. Agricultural Systems put profit back into farming and processing.

This ozone technology can condition irrigation water, so it is perfect for optimum plant growth.

• Ozone oxidizes organics, salts and chemicals in water into inert elements. Plants easily absorb the oxidized material as plant food.

• Ozone chelates minerals in water into sub-micron sized particles that are easily absorbed by plants as plant food.

• Ozone injection into irrigation water delivers pH balanced, super saturated oxygen water to the root zone of plants. Super saturated oxygen water promotes rapid, bountiful, healthy, vigorous, pathogen free plant growth.

Perfect irrigation water removes many variables that effect plant growth. Plants given ozone conditioned water will amaze you with their rapid growth and great crop yields. When combined the increased yield, reduced time of grow cycles, reduced water, fertilizer and pesticide. An added benefit is that the alfalfa was inspected by a plant nutritionist found to be 10-20% more nutritious than previous grows.

O3 Science, Inc. enhanced disinfection systems will provide an added layer of protection against recalls, spoilage, rot, mold, and fungus. Our disinfection Systems will reduce spoilage. Many storage facilities lose 10-30% or more of their crops to rot while in storage. Cutting the spoilage will increase income.

Advantages of O3 Science, Inc. Agricultural Systems.

• Very low cost.

• Very high return on investment.

• Easy to install.

• Proprietary injection system increases ozone contact with water.

• Utilizes the most powerful form of ozone.

The net effect of our ozone systems installed on your farm is:

• Healthier plants free of insects, mold and fungus

• Faster growing plants, up to 5-10% faster crop cycles.

• Higher crop yields, up to 10-20%.

• Larger healthier root mass.

• Reduced chemical cost.

• Reduced water consumption

The net effect of Ozone disinfection added to your sanitation plan is:

• Added protection against recalls.

• Highest level of disinfection possible.

• Greatly reduced spoilage of stored foods.

• Insect, mold and fungus free grain silos.

We at O3 science, Inc. have worked on these programs for 18+ years and have developed ozone systems for many companies and issues from home sanitation to growing systems to help everyone. We will show people our studies and technical information to customers upon signing a NCND agreement. Yes Our name was Ozone Clean pro Lc. But we felt it was time to change because of how many systems we have for everyone and it not just about cleaning anymore.

Call today to understand how O3 Science, Inc. can improve your agriculture business.

Thank You!

O3 Science, Inc.

www.O3Scinence.com

Phone Number: (435) 251-8881

 

 A paper By Kurt Becker

Understanding Dissolved Oxygen

By: Kurt Becker

Even the non-technical growers have an understanding and appreciation for the measurements used in greenhouse growing today. Monitoring and optimization of pH and Electrical Conductivity (EC) have become standard practice, improving plant health and quality throughout the industry. By measuring these two simple factors, most nutritional problems can be avoided. The measurement of Dissolved Oxygen (DO) is also proving to be just as critical to plant growth. As with the other two measurements, there are minimum levels required for a healthy plant. Also, by optimizing DO, as with pH and EC, we can see great improvements in plant growth and quality. However, far fewer growers are utilizing, or are even aware, of this measurement.

Many of the practices in botany already consider the effect that oxygen has on the root zone. In the field, we till the soil. Among other things, this adds air space to provide oxygen to the roots. In horticulture, growing media is selected with a consideration for porosity for the same reason. The benefits of oxygen to plant roots, and to the rhizosphere in general, is well established in the mind of the grower. However, most are unaware of the level of oxygen contained in their irrigation water and don’t realize that there are methods to improve this level.

Dissolved oxygen is simply the amount of oxygen (O2) dissolved in water. It’s one of the best indicators of the quality, and the life-supporting ability, of water. People need the right amount of oxygen in the atmosphere to survive. And, just as fish need the right amount of dissolved oxygen in the water to survive and thrive, so do plants. 
Measured in mg/l, as a percent of saturation (%) or in parts per million (ppm), dissolved oxygen levels are affected by the temperature and salinity of the water, and also by other chemical and/or biological demands (COD/BOD) of the water. Cold water can hold more dissolved oxygen than warm water (see Figure 1) and fresh water can hold more dissolved oxygen than salt water. The maximum amount of DO that the water can hold is called the saturation value. It’s possible, and very often desired—especially in a greenhouse—to exceed the natural saturation point of DO in water. This is called super-saturation. 

At levels around 5 mg/l of dissolved oxygen, irrigation water is typically considered marginally acceptable for plant health. Most greenhouse crops, however, will perform better with higher levels. Levels of 8 mg/l or higher are generally considered to be good for greenhouse production and much higher levels, as high as 30 mg/l or more, are achievable and can be beneficial. If the DO levels are below 4 mg/l, the water is hypoxic and becomes very detrimental, possibly fatal, to plants and animals. If there’s a severe lack of DO, below around 0.5 mg/l, the water is anoxic. No plants or animals can survive in anoxic conditions. The irrigation water in many greenhouses has surprisingly low levels—often in the dangerous hypoxic range. 

Unfortunately, without measurement and awareness of the dissolved oxygen in greenhouse irrigation water, problems caused by hypoxic water in plant growth often go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. Happily, monitoring DO is fairly easy. Just as with pH and EC meters, there’s a wide range of devices available at varying quality, accuracy and ease-of-use to test the level of dissolved oxygen in water.

When measuring DO, it’s important to understand the oxygen demand in the irrigation system and in the roots. There are plenty of things that will use oxygen in this environment. This is the reason that you might test 8mg/l DO at a cistern or well head, but only 5mg/l at the plant. Organic material in the water, or biofilm in your pipes, will consume oxygen. For this reason, it’s important to test in multiple locations and look for ways to remove as much of the biological demand as possible.

However, the detrimental effects of low-dissolved oxygen levels shouldn’t be the only reason to measure. Increasing DO in irrigation water can not only prevent problems, but with super-saturated levels, it can increase quality and plant growth, reducing cropping time and overall health. High levels of dissolved oxygen promote healthy root growth. The root system requires oxygen for aerobic respiration, an essential process that releases the energy required for healthy root growth and a healthy plant. 

Research shows that higher dissolved oxygen levels in the root zone of most crops results in a higher root mass. A plant with more root mass grows healthier and faster. A plant’s roots are where it gets the majority of its inputs for growth, including water and nutrients. Healthy roots with a good supply of oxygen have better respiration and are able to selectively absorb more ions in solution, such as the vital mineral salts nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. When there’s less oxygen in the water than there is in the plant, this reduces the permeability of roots to water, therefore reducing (even reversing) the absorption of nutrients. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A healthier plant is a more efficient plant 
DO isn’t just an additional nutrient one should pay more attention to because it makes a healthier plant;

there are direct economic impacts, as well. When used properly, it can reduce the amount of nutrients and micronutrients required, as well as the amount of costly chemicals, such as fungicides. Additionally, evidence suggests that plant growth increases with super-saturation levels of DO, reducing cropping times and increasing fruiting or flowering yields. 

Improving levels of dissolved oxygen can be done through various methods. Simple aeration or agitation can increase dissolved oxygen enough to prevent problems. Injecting air or, especially, pure oxygen can increase levels as well, but only as high as saturation levels. Paying attention to temperature can also help improve DO, as colder water can hold more oxygen. Additionally, water at atmospheric pressure will hold less oxygen than when under pressure. Think of a bottle of carbonated water:  while under pressure, the water holds more carbon dioxide than it can when the cap is removed and the pressure is released. Once the bottle is opened, the CO2 begins to gas-off from the water, effervescing. The same is true with oxygen. Adding oxygen to a pressurized system can increase the level of DO.

Ozonation is another method for increasing oxygen levels in solution. Like oxygen injection, injecting ozone gas will increase dissolved oxygen. However, ozone or O3 is almost 13 times more soluble in water than O2. This allows for much greater levels of oxygen to be dissolved into the water. As O3 is very unstable and reverts back to O2 quickly, it leaves super-saturated levels of dissolved oxygen in the water. As the system remains under pressure, the DO levels can be maintained at more than 300% of the saturation level of DO.

While adding dissolved oxygen, ozone has an additional benefit in that it oxidizes organic material and biofilm in the pipes, reducing the oxygen demand and helping to maintain higher levels of DO.
Putting it to the test
Trials were conducted at Metrolina Greenhouses in Huntersville, North Carolina. Utilizing a portable water-treatment unit consisting of filtration and ozonation, the benefits of water super-saturated with dissolved oxygen were tested against their standard water sources. Three greenhouses were tested side-by-side using identical benching and booms. One used their pond water, one used their well water and the third used their pond water treated with the trial system. Consistently, the plugs in the third greenhouse using the ozone treatment had higher germination rates, faster cropping times, better root growth and better leaf development. Measurement of their dissolved oxygen in the irrigation water used in the third house was 300% greater than in the other two houses (see Figure 2).

In a final summary of the trial and of their first year using their own, complete treatment system, Metrolina reported that they saw an average of two weeks shorter cropping time on most liners, with complete cropping time reductions up to four weeks. More robust root systems with less damage and more drought tolerance were noted, as well as the removal of all biofilm from filters and pipes, and an overall reduction in their shrink by 66% from their previous three-year average.

These results are extremely impressive and achievable by others with proper equipment. However, growers can improve the health of their water in the short term by simply paying attention to the dissolved oxygen in their water. At a minimum, monitoring DO in irrigation water can help prevent problems or suggest different courses of action as problems arise. 

In the long run, the ability to optimize oxygen levels could improve plant health quality, reduce crop times and eliminate shrink, just as the focus on other input optimization has in the past.

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Kurt Becker is the Executive Vice President—Sales & Marketing at the Dramm Corporation in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.