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Water Crystals for Moisture RetentionJeff Oswald, Lawrence Brown, and Paul Peterson, WSU
Test a water absorptive amendment for effect on yield, test weight and protein on winter wheat after summer fallow. Location: Airway
Heights, WA Water Crystals were hand applied (recommended rate = 17 lb/ac) Sept. 2, 1992 prior to seeding; no additional application prior to the fall 1994 seeding. Conventional fertilizer application was made. Check - conventional fertilizer only. CommentsThis is the second year of measuring results of a one time application of the amendment which is purported to absorb and retain water up to many times its own weight. Hand application of the material was not uniform, varying from 13 to 19 lb/ac. There was also soil variability in the field and the harvested portions of the plots were shortened for 1995 to eliminate as much of the non-uniformity as possible. Yields were poor despite the good moisture year; there was speculation that an aircraft fuel dump may have occurred over the field. Data
Conclusion From the data, there appears to be no advantage to Water Crystal application. Results for 1995 yield were reversed from 1993 when the check out yielded the water crystals by and average of 5 bu/ac. 1995 test weights were virtually identical for the treatment and the check and there was no statistical difference in protein content. There may be more potential benefit on spring crops. Variation in application rates and techniques might be worth investigation. |
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