Aqua-PhyD, Inc. is based in Irvine, California. The Company has developed a non-chemical water and soil treatment technology that addresses water shortages and water quality issues.
Aqua-PhyD was founded in 2004 with a "Green" company water conservation agenda. However, understanding the need to prove its business model and technology in a clearly defined market, the Company first targeted the high profile US Golf industry where significant volumes of fresh water are used daily.
Today, the Aqua-PhyD technology is in use on several golf courses. Each course has demonstrated a reduction in soil compaction, saving on water consumption, and conspicuous, visual evidence of greener, healthier turf.
In 2007, Aqua-PhyD entered agriculture enabling growers to stretch limited water supplies. In addition, Aqua-PhyD has proven to provide a number of benefits to agriculture leading to healthier plants, increased nutrient availability, decreased salt accumulation, and greater yield.
Following the success of university studies exploring Aqua-PhyD’s treated water on pipe corrosion, the company began providing solutions for various industrial applications including boilers and chillers and power plants. It is the newest addition to the growing list of divisions for the Aqua-PhyD technology.
AGRICULTURE
The Aqua-PhyD system enables Agriculture to:
- Save water
- Prevent salt accumulation in the root zone
- Reduce effects of reclaimed poor quality water
- Increase nutrient availability
- Reduce compaction
Soil samples were taken at a California vineyard. After 75 days of treating the soil with Aqua-PhyD, new soil samples we re taken. Note comparisons between blocks 25 and 26.
Soluble Salts Sodium
 
Sulfur ECe
 
 NON-TREATED  TREATED
Moisture Retention in Soil
A study was performed on a tomato field using a subsurface drip system. The average depth of tomato roots is 3 to 4 feet; tomatoes drink water in a reverse pyramid (1st foot-40%, 2nd foot-30%, 3rd-20%, 4th-10%). The water supplied to the field had over 1200 ppm in Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), affecting water infiltration and percolation.
Monitoring sensors were set at 8 inches (red), 16 inches (blue), and 24 inches (green) on two Blocks: Control (Non-Treated) and Aqua-PhyD (Treated).
Study results:
- The Aqua-PhyD Block consumed 29% less water per acre than the Control.
- The Aqua-PhyD Block
had greater moisture at all three sensor levels making water uptake more available to the plants.
Sensor Depth |
Moisture Increase |
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Growing a Corn crop with 30% Less Water
In the picture above, the sweet corn to the left of the yellow line was watered using a recommended schedule and watering amounts for the area. The corn to the right of the yellow line used the same watering schedule but received 30% less water from germination to current growth than the corn to the left of the line.
California State University, Fresno and the Center for Irrigation Technology (CIT) Study
Study: Interaction of Aqua-PhyD Treated Water for vegetable production (Broccoli) using 20% less water.
In Clay Soil:
- Treated water had significant effect on broccoli floret size
- Floret sizes irrigated with 80% ET were similar to 100% ET
- Treated plants matured earlier
In Sandy Loam Soil:
- Treated water produced a comparable crop despite a 20% water reduction
 
"Broccoli plants watered and grown in clay soil at 100% ET, when exposed to the Aqua-PhyD treatment, developed earlier. At 80% ET, the Aqua-PhyD treated plants produced a plant equivalent in size to the plants watered at 100% ET. This finding is important since growers with salt affected clay soils are continuously seeking out irrigation technologies which will improve the growth rate and thereby result in an earlier crop harvest date."
- Dave Goorahoo, PhD - Department of Plant Sciences - Fresno State
Growing Plumerias with 40% Less Water and Increased Yield
Aqua-PhyD treated water accelerated growth and produced a healthier plant. Leaves are 9 to 12 inches in length with early flower blooms (Treated) compared to 2 inches without Aqua-PhyD (Untreated). Non-Treated plants pictured below left. Treated, below right.
  
"Using normal water, soil and fertilizer procedures, my plants will grow 8 to 10 inches of new growth each season. With Aqua-Phyd I have 18 inches of new growth with a healthier plant using no fertilizers. I have happy plants." - Plumeria Nursery owner
GOLF and TURF
How much water you have to put on your grass and soil is not as important as how much water gets into the soil. Compaction is the enemy. Golf carts, golfers, chemicals, reclaimed water, wind, heat, and even heavy raindrops will compact soil and prevent water from penetrating the soil. Compaction causes runoff, standing water, yellow and brown spots. Compaction denies water penetration to needy roots that grow a healthy plant.
Aqua-PhyD guarantees significant and sustained compaction reduction on any golf course or park with normal irrigation. Not only will compaction be reduced even in hard clay on a hot summer day, once the water has penetrated to the roots, the moisture will remain. Surface evaporation, runoff and standing water will be eliminated. As a final benefit, water use and its related cost will also be significantly reduced.
Compaction readings at four sample courses started with readings between 600 and 800 psi. Before treatment, the meter was unable to penetrate more than one inch.
Within six days compaction was reduced to the 200-250 psi range and probe penetration increased to 10 inches and more using Aqua-PhyD.
Compaction levels at The Palms Country Club, La Quinta, CA were 720 psi. Within one week of water and soil conditioning, compaction levels dropped to 220 psi and the compaction meter easily penetrated the soil to a depth of 18 inches.
Golf Installations
Aqua-PhyD's technology installs into the main water supply line. Water is treated using only the normal irrigation water pressure and flow. A sampling of installations are pictured below.
A side benefit of using Aqua-PhyD is that irrigation pipes and drip systems are continuously cleared of calcium and chemical buildup. The following picture shows pipe buildup, cleaned from the pipe and captured in the sprinkler-head filter.
Case Study - Growing Push-up Greens with 20% Less Water
Desert Forest Golf Club in Carefree, Arizona
A split nine trial was performed over a 60-day period with the following results:
Water Penetration - "From the beginning, we saw better water penetration and a better root mass. Also, a better secondary root growth. We went from a dispersed soil to a flocculated soil where we got better use of our nutrients and minerals in the soil."
Nutrient Availability - "Base saturation tests found that nutrients were much more available to the plant."
Increased Root Growth - "We saw an increase in the root depth and root mass. Before we only got 1 to 2 inches. Now we are getting 3 to 4 inches. The secondary growth has changed resulting in a better uptake of moisture and nutrients to the plant where the plant is much fuller and has a better capability to go through the drought so we won't have to water as much."
Leaching of Salts - "It was dynamic to see the magnitude of the change in the black clay layer. We were also able to get better leaching to take place moving the salts and bicarbonates out of the root area which gave the plant the ability to grow."
Water Savings - "The turf is in as good a shape, if not better with a 15% to 20% water reduction."
- Karl Olson, CGCS - Former USGA Chief Agronomist. Currently Chief Agronomist and Superintendent of Desert Forest Golf Club, Carefree, AZ
The chart above represents the average composite for the front and back nine with all 18 greens being tested. The nutrients are expressed in part-per million (ppm) with the resulting increase in solubility. This evaluation resulted with the installation of the Aqua-PhyD system and brought about reduced compaction, improved playability and turf grass vigor. After rain occurrences, it was noted that certain areas prone to ponding due to compaction no longer had standing water.
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