AQUA4D Opens New California Branch Office and Warehouse

Swiss-based Precision Irrigation experts AQUA4D has continued expansion in California by opening a new branch office and warehouse in the Central Valley. This will help bring their game-changing technology to more US growers than ever, with the boosts to water efficiency, productivity, and salts management this involves.

Expanding projects, expanding team

The first US-based projects began back in 2018 when co-founder Walter K. Thut relocated to Fresno to oversee the first AQUA4D installations on pistachio and almond orchards. Since then, the team has grown along with the number of projects, including ex-Lindsay irrigation specialist Yvain Mirabal, and innovative agtech expert Jeff Nunes.

Impressive results

The latest expansion follows a range of notable results in the Central Valley and beyond. Most recently, a project at a large nut grower in Kern County looked at leaching effects soon after installing AQUA4D. The early results from soil probe readings showed salts being leached down at all levels compared with the control, as well as 22-25% less EC (electroconductivity). As AQUA4D is the only technology on the market which solves salinity issues while increasing water efficiency in the process, the results are being followed closely in areas affected by brackish water, soil salinity, and drought conditions.

In late 2021 came the long-awaited results of a stress test at University of California (Lindcove Extension Center). Overseen by Ashraf El-kereamy, the side-by-side study on citrus trees looked at the effect of AQUA4D’s precision irrigation when plants are placed under extreme drought conditions. Trees were effectively starved of water for 7-14 days, but to the astonishment of agronomical observers, the AQUA4D trees remained in good condition while the trees from the ‘control’ crop started to wither and die.

Watch here as field agronomist Jeff Nunes surveys the scene:

Expected growth curve

As well as ongoing projects, further exciting news is expected in the coming months and years, especially with the full launch of the AQUA4D H-A Max system for large-scale macro irrigation in 2023. Initial trial results in Kansas and Nebraska were encouraging, implying AQUA4D’s water efficiency boosts in micro-irrigation can be transferred onto larger commodity crops such as wheat and corn, thanks to an adaptation designed for pivot irrigation and the huge flow rates required.

Full commercialization of the Max system is expected early next year, with many in California keeping a keen eye on AQUA4D developments due to the potential impacts on water efficiency and salts management◻️

—–

Find out more: [Animation: How AQUA4D® irrigation manages salts while using less water in the process]