A
re you subject to water restrictions
and now have to preserve water for
the most profitable orchard or crop
on your farm? Are your water rights
limiting expansion on your farm? Do soil re-
strictions limit the effectiveness of your irriga-
tion? Do you know whether you are getting
even water distribution in your soil profile?
Look out for standing water in the rows or, in
lighter soils, excessive water running down the
irrigation drains or poor fine‑root development
deeper in the soil profile. With limited water
availability, you might find it difficult to wet
your soil profile. In drip irrigation you might
find narrow or uneven wetting patterns, restricting
root development and increasing your crop
sensitivity to marginal soil moisture. If you can
answer YES to any of these questions or have
noticed any of these symptoms on your farm,
you may find the use of a soil conditioner to
your benefit.
Soil characteristics such as compaction, surface
crusting and hydrophobicity (water-repellency)
limit infiltration and distribution of water in
the soil. This results in water stress for
the crop, reducing productivity and water use
efficiency.
With the application of a soil conditioner,
such as TRANSFORMER SA ®, you can increase
your irrigation efficiency and ensure that water
infiltrates the soil faster and is distributed
evenly in the root zone. This ensures more
optimal oxygen levels in the root zone.
TRANSFORMER SA can be applied through
your irrigation system, preferably at the
beginning of the season, so that the resulting
more efficient water-use can have maximum
effect on the crop. Alternatively, apply any
time during the season when water or heat
stress periods are expected or when the
crop is most sensitive to water stress.
Efficiency of drip irrigation can be improved
by more uniform distribution of water and
through improved lateral (sideways) move-
ment of water in the soil profile. In saline
conditions this effect will be helpful to move
unwanted salts further away from the roots
(See picture). Efficiency of soil applied calcium
products are improved when preceded by a
TRANSFORMER SA treatment.
TRANSFORMER SA is manufactured in Cape
Town, South Africa and contains OROWET®
Technology. It is based on cold pressed
orange oil in a proprietary blend of biode-
gradable surfactants. TRANSFORMER SA has
been tested on various soil types and in
different irrigation systems. It is registered
under Act 36 of 1947 to improve water infil-
tration and distribution (especially noticea-
ble in compacted or surface crusted soils),
reducing hydrophobicity and increasing wa-
Increasing lateral distribution in drip
irrigation, keeping salts out of the roots
zone.