Tilling, Cover Crops and Rotations Reduction
Farmers have known for many years oxygenated soils improve plant respiration, mineral uptake and water movement in roots, all of which have a positive impact on plant growth and productivity.
HyGrO technology can potentially reduce the need for tilling, cover crops and rotations.
The supply of oxygen to the plant root area (rhizosphere) generally improves crop performance under anoxic/hypoxic soil conditions. The process of tilling the soil before sowing greatly improves aeration and is a common practice conducted by farmers the world over. There are unfortunately many detrimental results associated with tilling, including high soil erosion, elevated leaching, localized air pollution and increased cost.
Many regions have placed restrictions or complete bans on tilling. We believe our HyGrO technology can play an important role in helping farmers reduce the need for crop tilling. We also believe HyGrO can help farmers reduce the need for cover crops because HyGrO helps to bank much needed hydrogen in the soil for next year's crop. We believe HyGrO might also help reduce the need for crop rotations due to increased soil health. Finally, more humus (from earthworms), bacteria and fungi growth could also be realized using HyGrO.
What is now known is hydrogen gas is an ‘obligate byproduct’ of the nitrogen fixing bacteria nitrogenase, found in legume nodules. Hydrogen released into the soil by the nodules greatly improves soil fertility, which in turn improves plant growth performance.
Interesting Facts About Hydrogen & Oxygen
Hydrogen and Oxygen are necessary to NPK uptake. N = Nitrogen, P = Phosphorus, and K = Potassium. All three are the main components of fertilizer. Adding H2 and O2 to the soil would seem to be the reason significantly increased growth and better overall health of plants is noticed after a thunderstorm, where lightning brings increased levels of nitrogen, oxygen and hydrogen to the soil.