(Graph #1) Cation Conc. before Mitigation, after Gypsum, & after Liqua-Jip 0"-12" Sampling Before Gypsum Liqua-Jip

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1 LIQUA-JIP TEST DATA On farms with good records, some blocks of land data had been taken both before and after the application of extensive quantities of gypsum. This product has no sulfate ion in the formulation and is at least 100 times as soluble as the calcium sulfate in gypsum. It is designed to be a soluble source of calcium that may be used to displace the ions on the soil anionic sites with calcium ion. The product, Liqua-Jip, may provide a better balance between the cations in the soil solution and provide a more stable growing condition. As the Liqua-Jip was applied to this and other areas where no mitigation was instituted the following results were obtained. This testing process will be continued to evaluate the results over the subsequent years on these and other blocks of soil providing more complete data on the long term effects of the application of this particular product. This process of testing as mentioned will continue and be expanded as more farms begin to use this product for the mitigation of imbalances in the cation concentrations in the soil solution. Remember this product is a liquid calcium soil supplement. The data taken gives some idea of the efficiency of the product in displacing the sodium and other cations from the clay particles in the soil matrix. Because data was taken at various depths some useful information was obtained as to how the displaced cations move through the soil profile. The increase in calcium ion concentration in the soil solution provides the mechanism for the displacement of the sodium. This is because of not only the smaller size of the calcium ion but because the calcium has a positive two charge. It is noted that the calcium ion displaces magnesium ion from the clay particles. As the sodium and magnesium ions are displaced and forced to remain in the soil solution, then and only then can these ions be carried down through the soil profile and away from the shallow roots. Because some pre-existing, the preexisting data was taken at varying depths, the follow-up test data was taken at the same depths. As the data was collected and analyzed in the field and by A&L Labs, it was noted that in all cases the calcium ion concentration was greatly increased after the application of Liqua-Jip. Both the sodium and magnesium ion concentrations increased because of the displacement ability of the calcium ion. The Liqua-Jip formula does not include added magnesium. Because of the relative mobility of the sodium ion in comparison to the calcium and magnesium ion, the displaced sodium ion moves through the soil profile more readily along with the irrigation water. Graph #1 compares the efficiency of an addition of gypsum and Liqua-Jip

2 (Graph #1) Cation Conc. before Mitigation, after Gypsum, & after Liqua-Jip 0"-12" Sampling Ca Mg Na Before Gypsum Liqua-Jip sequentially on the same block of land. As noted the calcium ion concentration is increased with the application of both gypsum and Liqua-Jip. The calcium ion observed in the soil solution is approximately six times the concentration with the application of Liqua-Jip as observed for the gypsum application. Only after the ions are displaced can the excesses be leached away from the root zone. Because pre-application data was available for this particular block of land a unique picture of the movement of the salts displaced was obtained. In Graph #1 the sampling was on the first 12 inches of the soil. In Graph # 2 the sampling was done on the first 18 inches of the soil. It should be noted that the samples for the 18 inches shows appreciably higher concentrations of the cations than for the first twelve inches of soil (Graph #2) Cation Conc. Before and After Liqua-Jip Application 0" - 18" 68.6 After LJ

3 Because on this block of land the profile was evaluated at both depths, the movement may be observed. It was noted that the cation concentrations were greatly increased in the six inches of soil between 12 inches and 18 inches (Graph #3) Caton Conc. Increase Before & After Liqua-Jip 12" - 18" (meq/l) The sodium and magnesium ions are displaced from the negative soil sites by the large excess of the calcium provided in Liqua-Jip. The irrigation water applied was able to move the cations through the soil profile and away from the root zone. To date the concentration of the cations displaced were observed to be appreciably greater between twelve and eighteen inches than in the first twelve inches of soil. As noted in the deeper sampling, all of the cation concentrations have increased after the application of Liqua-Jip. (Graph #4) Cation Conc. Before and After LiquaJip Application 18"-36" Ca Mg Na After LJ It is assumed that the displacement process will take place as the higher concentration of calcium is in contact with the soil matrix, however this is academic if the freed ions are not moved deeper into the soil. The increase in

4 the calcium ion added to the soil solution as well as the increase in the magnesium ion because of the displacement causes the SAR of the soil solution to maintain a reasonable and safe value in at least three feet of soil. Comparison of Cation Conccentration in the 0-12" and 0-18" Soil Profile AfterLJ 0-12" After LJ 0-18" To date the results are very promising for the displacement of the sodium ion and flushing of the excess salts from the soil profile. The results have shown that the water percolation, which has been a problem for many growers in the past, is greatly improved by the application of Liqua-Jip. The Sodium Absorption Ratio, SAR, the balance between the calcium, magnesium to sodium ions in the soil extract, is maintained throughout the profile improved water percolation is the goal of this product. The SAR for all samples at all depths of sampling where Liqua-Jip had been applied had an average value of 0.600± This value is well within safe standards. Because the excess sodium is displaced from the clay particles greater water penetration is observed. The available ions are maintained at high enough concentrations to provide the necessary concentrations of the cations for plant health. This liquid calcium seems to be a good soil calcium additive. As this product is used over a longer period of time the utility of the product will continue to be monitored. To date it seems that any large excess of cations (sodium. magnesium, potassium, hydrogen, etc.) held on the soil sites may be displaced by the soluble, chelated and complexed calcium ion in Liqua-Jip. Because the water sources in the western states varies greatly in the ratios of calcium, magnesium and sodium, the actual ions in highest quantity on the clay sites varies greatly. With a greater number of samplings on other soil types and water conditions the scope and utility of Liqua-Jip may be monitored and documented. Tom Lubin Product Development, WNC Technical Adviser, AQUASOIL SS

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