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IRRIGA
IRRIGATIONTION
W is essential for all life.
Water ater
is essential for all life.
GREEN HOUSES Due to the incr
Due to the increasing easing
dem
demand by mankind’s and by mankind’s
growing population, expanding industry and urban owing population, expanding industry and urban
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However, this is only part of the prob- cause may become associated with plant development: w
development: water scarcity is a threatening reality. ater scarcity is a threatening reality.
lem because when ‘calcium meets phos- pathogens. The reduction in calcium mo- R
Responsive Drip Irrigation (RDI) is a solution to the esponsive Drip Irrigation (RDI) is a solution to the
phorous’ insoluble calcium phosphate is bility under high temperature conditions
wor
formed. “In these commonly-occurring is well known and Saudi Arabian grow- world’s growing water scarcity.ld’s growing water scarcity.
situations Omex Calmax comes into play ers will typically specify the application
After more than a decade of research and development, e than a decade of research and development,
and shows its strength as a foliar spray of Omex Calmax to overcome such tem- After mor
RDI commer
by furnishing the plant with soluble and perature-related constraints on calcium RDI commercially released GrowStream™, the world’s cially released GrowStream™, the world’s
therefore plant available calcium,” says availability. fir
first plant-responsive irrigation system in December st plant-responsive irrigation system in December
Peter Prentis. Omex will be attending the Saudi of 2018. This disrupti
of 2018. This disruptive irrigation technology uses ve irrigation technology uses
Peter adds how benefits accruing from Agriculture Show 21-24 October 2019 an under
an understanding of plant physiology and organic standing of plant physiology and organic
foliar applications of Omex Calmax are to support their Saudi Arabian distrib- chemistry, creating GrowStream’s “smart” subsurface y, creating GrowStream’s “smart” subsurface
chemistr
boosted by using the product in tandem utor, Al-Yaseen Agricultural Company. tube, which interacts and r
tube, which interacts and responds to chemical signals esponds to chemical signals
with the phosphite-containing Omex Omex Managing Director Peter Prentis r
released by plants’ roots. This patented, chemically-eleased by plants’ roots. This patented, chemically-
DP98. “This is achieved by tank mix- will be pleased to meet visitors on the
infused microporous tubing holds water and nutrients oporous tubing holds water and nutrients
ing Omex Calmax and Omex DP98. The Al-Yaseen Agricultural Company Stand infused micr
until r
phosphite in DP98 ‘ferries’ calcium into – No 435-1. until root exudates are emitted that trigger the release of oot exudates are emitted that trigger the release of
water. GrowStream™ doesn’t attempt to control Nature, ater. GrowStream™ doesn’t attempt to control Nature,
the plant, swiftly, safely and securely Circle 28 on enquiry card w
but rather interacts on an organic cellular level to ganic cellular level to
via absorption through the leaves,” says Calcium deficiency is the primary but rather interacts on an or
Peter cause of blossom end rot in tomato respond to nature’s signals. espond to nature’s signals.
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(Picture Dr Terry Mabbett)
This n
This nature-driven system is the most water-efficient irrigation ever invented. ature-driven system is the most water-efficient irrigation ever invented.
Calcium as calcium pectate cements GrowStream’s plant-responsive system provides a slow-release delivery owStream’s plant-responsive system provides a slow-release delivery “ “
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the walls of adjoining cells together to of water that matches the roots’ absorption capacity. Since the plant is self-ater that matches the roots’ absorption capacity. Since the plant is self- This nature-driven his nature-driven
of w
form strong and rigid plant tissues. Any
s
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shortfall in calcium will correspondingly regulating its water delivery, the plant is less stressed, resulting in higher egulating its water delivery, the plant is less stressed, resulting in higher system is the most ystem is the most
yields in agriculture. Lawn and landscape require far less water and achieve e. Lawn and landscape require far less water and achieve
show up as tissue structure-related defi- yields in agricultur
water-efficient ater-efficient
superior results. This plant-responsive method of irrigation demonstrates esults. This plant-responsive method of irrigation demonstrates
ciency symptoms. Blossom end rot (to- superior r w
superior efficiency over all currently available subsurface drip systems, ently available subsurface drip systems,
mato, capsicum pepper, aubergine and superior efficiency over all curr
irrigation ever rrigation ever
cucumber), bitter pit (apples and pears), using 30-50% less water.ater. i
using 30-50% less w
i
Sandy friable soils of Saudi Arabia tip burn (lettuce) and internal browning Blossom end rot of tomato initially invented.nvented.
are ideal for activity of the root knot (potato tubers) are some of the most caused by calcium deficiency can be GrowStream’s tube supplies water-soluble fertilizers directly in the owStream’s tube supplies water-soluble fertilizers directly in the
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nematode, with devastating results frequently occurring and best known subsequently invaded by a range of rhizosphere, so plants can be grown in non-arable land and sandy soil. The hizosphere, so plants can be grown in non-arable land and sandy soil. The ” ”
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effects of insufficient plant available cal-
especially for tomato as shown here cium. Symptoms such as blossom end rot fungal pathogens to put the crop at water source can be a well, a river, brackish water, tap water, reclaimed ater source can be a well, a river, brackish water, tap water, reclaimed
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(Picture courtesy Omex) with a shortfall in calcium as the primary further risk (Picture Dr Terry Mabbett) water, etc. High temperatures do not affect the system’s efficiency. GrowStream™ will lead to an unprecedented ater, etc. High temperatures do not affect the system’s efficiency. GrowStream™ will lead to an unprecedented
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conversion of previously non-arable land for crop production to increase global food supply, while drastically version of previously non-arable land for crop production to increase global food supply, while drastically
con
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reducing the use of earth’s most valuable resource: water.educing the use of earth’s most valuable resource: water.
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GrowStream’s tube has millions of microscopic openings along its surface to release water. The system has no owStream’s tube has millions of microscopic openings along its surface to release water. The system has no
emitter
emitters to clog or malfunction. RDI’s system operates at extremely low pressure (2-4 psi), delivering water in s to clog or malfunction. RDI’s system operates at extremely low pressure (2-4 psi), delivering water in
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row lengths exceeding 1200 feet. There is no need for electronic components—just a water source. The system ow lengths exceeding 1200 feet. There is no need for electronic components—just a water source. The system
is simply a water pressure regulator, fittings and the tube. There are no solenoids, valves, controllers, timers or ater pressure regulator, fittings and the tube. There are no solenoids, valves, controllers, timers or
is simply a w
other electr
other electronic devices.onic devices.
RDI offer
RDI offers irrigation solutions for greenhouses, orchards, rural farms, landscapes, golf courses and commercial s irrigation solutions for greenhouses, orchards, rural farms, landscapes, golf courses and commercial
farms. RDI was awarded the “Best Innovation by a Startup” at the March 2019 Global Forum for Innovations in as awarded the “Best Innovation by a Startup” at the March 2019 Global Forum for Innovations in
farms. RDI w
A
Agriculture (GFIA) in Abu Dhabi. RDI is coordinating R&D projects at The Abu Dhabi Agriculture & Food Safety griculture (GFIA) in Abu Dhabi. RDI is coordinating R&D projects at The Abu Dhabi Agriculture & Food Safety
Authority’s research facility in the UAE for further development of RDI’s latest innovations. uthority’s research facility in the UAE for further development of RDI’s latest innovations.
A
Following the GFIA show in Abu Dhabi, RDI began ollowing the GFIA show in Abu Dhabi, RDI began
F
product distribution in Africa and Pakistan. Hydroponics oduct distribution in Africa and Pakistan. Hydroponics
pr
Africa Limited, an RDI distributor in Africa, has installed as installed
Africa Limited, an RDI distributor in Africa, h
GrowStream™ in greenhouses, farms, and refugee owStream™ in greenhouses, farms, and refugee
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camps. Affectionately called the “magic tube”, the ately called the “magic tube”, the
camps. Affection
s
system is producing higher yields using 40-50% less ystem is producing higher yields using 40-50% less
water than drip or hydroponic methods. RDI’s system has ater than drip or hydroponic methods. RDI’s system has
w
been pr
been presented for use in Nairobi’s and Somalia’s city esented for use in Nairobi’s and Somalia’s city
beautification projects. Eva-Anna Farms, RDI’s distributor ojects. Eva-Anna Farms, RDI’s distributor
beautification pr
in P
in Pakistan, has begun agricultural installations at the akistan, has begun agricultural installations at the
National Agricultural Resource Center and also began al Agricultural Resource Center and also began
Nation
turf and landscape installations for commercial projects cial projects
turf and landscape installations for commer
and communities in Islamabad. abad.
and communities in Islam
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GrowStream™ is capable of growing plants in the owStream™ is capable of growing plants in the
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harshest of environments, while using minimal amounts arshest of environments, while using minimal amounts
of w
of water. RDI’s mission is focused on increasing food ater. RDI’s mission is focused on increasing food
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production in arable and non-arable lands to match the needs of the growing global population, while creating oduction in arable and non-arable lands to match the needs of the growing global population, while creating
liveable cities to ensure a sustainable environment that conserves water; our planet’s most precious resource. veable cities to ensure a sustainable environment that conserves water; our planet’s most precious resource.
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This plant-responsive technology will forever change the way the world irrigates.esponsive technology will forever change the way the world irrigates.
This plant-r
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For more information about RDI: visit their website at: www.responsivedrip.com, call them in the U.S. at: (+1) 941.792.9788, or more information about RDI: visit their website at: www.responsivedrip.com, call them in the U.S. at: (+1) 941.792.9788,
Circle 29 on enquiry card
or em
or email: info@responsivedrip.com. Responsive Drip Irrigation, LLC, 6404 Manatee Ave. W. Suite N, Bradenton, FL 34209ail: info@responsivedrip.com. Responsive Drip Irrigation, LLC, 6404 Manatee Ave. W. Suite N, Bradenton, FL 34209
22 Vol. 35 No. 7 Circle 30 on enquiry card Vol. 35 No. 7 23
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