Water is an essential component of horticulture and agriculture whether it is used for irrigating field-scale vegetables, nursery stock, flowers or fruit. Where water contains high degrees of calcium, magnesium and sodium, it can cause nutrient deficiency in plants and crops resulting in stunted growth and poor yields. Calcium also blocks irrigation systems and boilers in heated greenhouses, which become scaled-up resulting in frequent maintenance and increasing fuel costs. Scalewatcher North America, manufacturers of the original, patented and award-winning computerized electronic water-conditioner, Scalewatcher®, has a range of units that will combat the effects of hard water in horticulture and agriculture.
Tests carried out in a greenhouse in L.J.J. Ammerlaan in the Netherlands, by the Scientific Mediation and Consultation Bureau, found that the harvest of green peppers fed with water treated using the Scalewatcher system provided a significantly higher yield than those fed with non-treated water. In addition, as the crops matured early, the growers were able to get their yield to market early providing them with a financial and marketing advantage.
Scalewatcher breaks the calcium barrier, which occurs naturally about an inch and a half below ground level. The calcium barrier prevents water penetrating deep into the soil and causes surface moisture to quickly evaporate resulting in reduced plant growth and wasted water. When the Scalewatcher system is fitted, plants grow healthier and more robust as their roots are able to penetrate deeper into the moisture rich soil.
Nurseries frequently use steam boilers to heat greenhouses. In the Netherlands, Den Brabender nursery uses a Crone steam boiler to heat its greenhouse. Make-up water, drawn from local ditches has a high mineral content, which cause the boiler to regularly scale-up necessitating frequent acid cleaning and repair resulting in US$2,500 on maintenance. Every three years the boilers pipes needed renewing and heat wastage from a build up of scale cost the nursery an additional US$11,000 in additional gas consumption. Within 12 months of Scalewatcher being installed the boiler was scale free and the nursery found its gas consumption had dropped by 20%.
Another instance of Scalewatcher helping horticulture occurred in Greece, where coastal farmers are finding that over consumption of bore hole water to feed orange trees had resulted in subterranean channels partially filled with sea water. This had resulted in tree roots becoming encrusted with calcium, causing the trees to appear burnt and produce poor quality and smaller crops of fruit. Following installation of Scalewatcher the trees remained healthy, produced new branches and leaves as well as abundant and quality fruit.
Therefore Scalewatcher will:
- Lower salt levels in soil
- Improve plant and crop growth
- Help provide better wetting action
- Drip irrigation systems stay clean
- Reduce irrigation water usage 20 – 30%
- Reduced effect of salt from well or sea water
- Water penetrates soil better
- Reduce the need for fertilizers
- Stop scale/corrosion in water systems
- Help produce greater yields
In addition Scalewatcher will inhibit algae growth, stop salt encrustation and save on fuel.
A fit and forget system Scalewatcher is easy to install and requires no plumbing, maintenance or chemicals. Using modern, integrated circuitry the Scalewatcher emits an electronically applied force field, induced by a coil wrapped around the outside of the pipe work, which keeps the minerals in suspension and thus prevents limescale forming. The unit can be attached to all types of pipework material, regardless of size.
Scalewatcher models are based on continuous research and over 20 years experience and expertise as market leaders in electronic scale control with countless units sold worldwide. The patented Scalewatcher systems start at $248.00 USD and are capable of treating pipe sizes from one to 80 inches. All Scalewatcher systems come with a full performance guarantee and include free shipping throughout North America