Hot, dry Australian summers create extreme moisture deprivation and heat stress, so farm managers must adapt and modify their agricultural methods and integrate innovative technologies to keep tree crops thriving in tough conditions.

Agspec has introduced a powerful new tool for tree croppers which allows them to maximise water efficiency, reduce water use and improve nutrient uptake in precious crops.

AquiMax, an innovative combination of polyacrylamide (PAM) and state-of-the-art surfactants and wetters formulated with Micro-Inversion Technology is a game-changing solution which significantly improves water retention and boosts nutrient uptake and transport providing significant physiological benefits for any species of tree. 

AquiMax is engineered to create an environment where tree crops can maintain access to water longer, keeping canopies cooler by improving transpiration and aiding them to endure heat stress.

Enhancing water availability with AquiMax

AquiMax effectively acts like an extra reservoir by allowing more water to be stored in a given volume of soil.

When applied, AquiMax’s Micro-Inversion Technology, creates micro-vesicles which increases the soil volumetric water content while reducing surface runoff and erosion, and increasing the soil’s capacity to hold plant-available water. This increased retention is critical during dry spells because more available water equates to more growth.

In tree crops, where root systems reach far and deep, AquiMax’s superior moisture retention properties reduce irrigation frequency and ensure plant-available water is closer to the roots for longer, enabling tree roots to access moisture for longer periods.

AquiMax contributes directly to sustained sap flow – a crucial factor in tree health and productivity during hot Australian summers.

Maximising irrigation effectiveness

The soil wetting ability of AquiMax, allied to a corresponding increase in moisture availability, may play a complementary role in combatting soil hydrophobicity.

Over time, certain soil types, particularly sandy soils, can develop a waxy coating that repels water.

Soil wetters in AquiMax help by breaking down this barrier, allowing water to penetrate deeper and spread evenly both laterally and vertically throughout the root zone.

This greatly improves the soil's capacity to retain moisture, providing a more consistent water supply to tree roots.

Keeping cooler canopies for tree vitality

The synergistic bond between PAM and soil wetters in AquiMax extends well beyond water retention.

The increased availability of water resulting from AquiMax use encourages more efficient sap flow within the tree, which in turn boosts the trees inbuilt cooling mechanism, the tree canopy.

As water moves more efficiently up through the tree and evaporates from the leaves, it better cools the canopy – a process akin to a plant’s natural air conditioning system.

A cooler canopy has multiple benefits – it reduces leaf temperature and lessens heat stress, which boosts photosynthesis rates.

Cooler canopies also reduce the risk of sunburn on leaves and fruits, helping maintain tree health and improving fruit quality and yield.

AquiMax benefits crop health and yield

With more precious water consistently available to plants, and heat stress reduced, trees experience far less physiological strain.

This delivers stronger growth, reduced risk of leaf and fruit drop, and ultimately, a higher yield potential.

The simple-to-use formulation in AquiMax doesn’t just prepare tree crops to survive a hot summer but empowers them to thrive.

In summary, adding cost-efficient AquiMax to your irrigation program will deliver:

• More efficient use per unit of water
• Increased plant-available water
• Improved nutrient uptake
• Reduced irrigation frequency
• Enhanced tree health and yield