This represents a potential saving in fertilizers, had we treated the whole greenhouse, of 20’000 dhs (1770 € / ha) for the duration of the trial.
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Study on the influence of physical water treatment Aqua-4D® on tomato cultivation
Location: Agadir - Morocco
Study context
The system Aqua-4D® was installed on 5/12/2008 in order to treat irrigation water for tomato cultivation in greenhouse in the region of Khémis Ait Amira, Agadir (Morocco).
The objective of the trial is to observe the effect on nematodes of the Aqua-4D® physical water treatment provided by Planet Horizons Technologies, a Swiss company, as well as the potential savings in fertilizers and the general state of the cultivation.
The irrigation system installed in the greenhouse is a drip system. The flow at drip level is 4 L/h. The drips are spaced each 0.4 m and the distance between irrigation lines is 2.5m.
Test protocol
The greenhouse chosen (N° 4) has a surface of 1 ha. It is known to be problematic considering its high level of infestation by nematodes. Usually, the farmer used to dig the plants before the end of cycle because of this problem. The greenhouse was divided into two identical plots of ½ ha each. Each plot is in the same phytosanitary state, meaning infected by nematodes. Plot N° 1 receives Aqua-4D® treated irrigation water whereas plot N° 2 receives « normal » water (not treated by aqua-4D®).
Planning – Test Progress
Date of installation of the physical water treatment system Aqua-4D® (beginning of test) : 5/12/2008
At moment of installation of the physical water treatment system (beginning of test) :
- The culture was at stage of 4th bouquet at greenhouse (plots N° 1 et 2) and was already treated by nematicides.
- Nematodes have already shown their presence, there was no individual count on the 2 plots but nodules were apparent on roots on both.
- On plot N° 1 (irrigated with water treated by Aqua-4D®), at PHT‘s request: the nematicide treatment was stopped and fertilizers quantity was reduced by 20% compared to the other half hectare (it is the reference plot) then by 30% three months later.
Trial ended on May 30 2009. Harvest effected in the course of the 6 months (from 4th bouquet until 20th).
Installation
- Top: Command 360E Pro, Bottom: 2 Tubes 360E
The Aqua-4D® physical water treatment system is installed inside the test greenhouse.
The two tubes 360E were connected in parallel after the valve, which feeds the ramp gate of the treated ½ ha. This valve is fed by the main conduit, which brings the water from the head pumping station.
Treated water is thus fed only to the test plot.
Results obtained
The present tables present the results of the observations performed during the test.
General observations
| Parameters | Treated plot | Non treated plot |
| Vegetation | Larger ( more leaves and larger size leaves, lengthened ) | Normal |
| Vigour | Normal, same diameter stem | Normal |
| Apex | Same vigour as stem | Less vigorous (thinner) |
| Fruit calibre | Mostly Calibre 1 and 2 | Mostly Calibre 2,3 |
| Empty fruit | Total absence | Presence of empty fruit |
| Firmness | Better | Normal |
| Coloration | Very good coloration (total) | Good coloration |
| Presence of nematodes | Yes (attacked, but we think this is due to the fact that they were already present in the roots at the beginning of the test, however without the use of nematicides the plant reached the 20th bouquet) | Yes* attacked |
| Fertilizers for leaves | No intake | Input following deficiencies |
| Humic + Fulvic acid | No intake | Input following deficiencies |
Savings in fertilizers
The following table sums up the quantities of fertilizers used in each plot :
| PLOT N° | Fertilizer | N | P2O5 | K2O | MgO | CaO |
| Plot n°2. not treated with Aqua-4D | Theoretical needs in fertilizing elements in FU/ha (Fertilizing Unit) | 600 | 250 | 1300 | 200 | 900 |
| Plot n°1. treated with Aqua-4D | Needs in FU / ha - 25% | 450 | 187.5 | 975 | 150 | 675 |
The following table summarises the savings obtained on plot N° 1 during the test (equivalent to – 25% of needs in FU/ha in mineral fertilizers).
| Fertilizer | Q (KG) | N(UF) | P2O5 (UF) | K2O (UF) | MgO (UF) | CaO (UF) |
| Ammo nitrate | 184 | 61.64 | - | - | - | - |
| Saltpetre | 355 | 46 | - | 163 | - | - |
| Potash sulphate | 324 | - | - | 162 | - | - |
| Magnesium sulphate | 313 | - | - | - | 50 | - |
| MAP | 114 | 12.54 | 62.5 | - | - | - |
| Lime nitrate | 900 | - | - | - | - | 225 |
Savings in humic and fulvic acid
During the trial period, plot N° 2 irrigated with water not treated by Aqua-4D® has sustained 2 phytosanitary treatments :
- 5 l /ha /week of humic acid i.e. 20 l /ha/month, and in total 120 l/ha /6 months. The cost of treatment is 7200 dhs (637 €)
- 5 l /ha /week of fulvic acid i.e. 20 l /ha/month, and in total 120 l/ha /6months. The cost of treatment is 7200 dhs (637 €)
Considering that Plot N° 1 did not sustain the above treatment thanks to our physical water treatment Aqua-4D®, this represents a saving in fulvic and humic acid if we had treated the whole greenhouse, of 14400 dhs / ha (1276 € / ha) for the duration of the trial.
Savings in nematicides
As from the month of March, 8 months after the plantation, and in order to continue the cultivation in plot N° 2 (non treated water), the farmer had to administer 9 Vidate treatments (nematicide), one every 20 days, i.e. 45 litters in 6 months (300 dhs/l or 26€/l). In addition to Vidate, an injection of bio-nematicides was performed (10l/ha). The deficiencies in the non-treated plot were corrected by :
- two magnesium treatments (5l /h)
- Four ferrostrene treatments (1.5 kg/ha)
That is a potential saving of 15000 à 18000 dhs/ha (1300 à 1600 €/ha), had we treated the whole greenhouse during the trial period with the physical water treatment Aqua-4D®.
Conclusion
Comparing the agronomical results obtained in plot N° 1, using water treated with Aqua-4D® system and those obtained in plot No 2 using non treated water, we have found that treating the water with our physical water treatment system brings the following advantages :
- Brings a net improvement in production quality
- Allows savings of 30% in fertilizers
- Insures a protection against nematodes
It is to be noted that our physical water treatment system Aqua-4D® is very easy to install and does not need any maintenance. It does not change the chemical composition of the water, does not use chemical products, has no tailings and has very low energy consumption.
Explanation of obtained results
The results described above confirm those already obtained by PHT in agronomical research centres in Switzerland and Germany. Those studies are available at PHT.
Concerning nematodes, studies and observations have demonstrated that they did not attack the roots when water was treated by our physical water treatment system Aqua-4D®. The reasons for this phenomena are not entirely known at the present stage of studies however the effectiveness of Aqua-4D® is proven.
As for the reduction in fertilizers, studies have shown that concentration of minerals in the plants is higher when they are irrigated with Aqua-4D® treated water than with non-treated water. This shows that the minerals are better adsorbed with our physical water treatment and this is why one can reduce the fertilizer dosage. The different processes in play during the treatment are described in detail in a document written by Dr Eric Valette (in charge of R&D in PHT) obtainable at PHT.
