Ecoflow – Catalytic Water Conditioner – Test Results

Morrill Industries Ecoflow™ – Site Review and Audit: Los Alamos Sports Park, Murrieta, CA

Conclusion:

  • The test site root depth grew a 68% deeper root system than the control site.
  • It appears that watering duration could be reduced in the test site area as the collective retained water or Plant Available Water (PAW) within the root zones of valve 3B increased over the test site of valve 2B. A water run time reduction test could not be conducted without possible damage to the surrounding control site and other areas.

Summary and Observation:

  • Water run times could be reduced by this amount or some fraction depending on the area use.
  • The test has shown a potential for water reduction and improved plant health by providing stress protection with increased PAW.
  • The reduction in irrigation run times should allow for the savings, from the cost the utility department charges for electricity to pump/ deliver the water and cost of water used for site irrigation, to pay for the product in short time.
  • The design of the product leads to minimal maintenance which may reduce labor costs compared to other soil health practices. 4
  • The operation of the product shows that there may be no need for extra added soil penetrates or extra fertilizer to break down the water/ soil barrier to maintain plant health other than standard maintenance practices. And, that this product may actually increase plant health over the longer term with standard maintenance practices.
  • There should be cost savings for reduction in chemicals and or aeration services with the EcoFlow installed at the irrigation systems point of connection.
  • It appears that the way the EcoFlow unit works is by reducing the ability of salt, in the water applied and in the content of the existing soil, to bind the soils ability to give up its free water for plant use. EcoFlow appears to be modifying the soils electrical conductivity which may then improve the osmotic interaction to make available more free water that can then move from the soil across into the plant cells using less energy. This may be the explanation of why the difference in root penetration depth between the control and test areas.
  • Based on this observation, the EcoFlow system may also reduce the need for plant food.

Morrill Industries Ecoflow™ – Unsaturated Hydraulic Conductivity Test Phase II Preliminary REPORT

Prepared by: The Center for Irrigation Technology (CIT) California State University, Fresno

In 2008 the Center for Irrigation Technology (CIT) conducted a small pilot field study to compare unsaturated hydraulic conductivity (Kunsat) in sandy loam soils irrigated with EcoFlowTM (formerly also called HydrochangerTM) treated water. This 2008 study was non-replicated, non-randomized and brief (conducted for only 2 months). Based on the initial findings of this study, Morrill Industries asked CIT to conduct a replicated, randomized, year-long, scientifically designed study to compare the effects of unsaturated hydraulic conductivity on sandy loam soils.

The objective was to evaluate the effect of EcoFlowTM treated water on unsaturated hydraulic conductivity in sandy loam soils.

Morrill Industries Ecoflow™ TOMATO TRIAL – FINAL REPORT

Prepared by: The Center for Irrigation Technology (CIT) California State University, Fresno

The Center for Irrigation Technology (CIT) was asked by Morrill Industries to conduct a field trial to explore the yield benefits of irrigating commercially-grown processing tomatoes using Morrill Industries Ecoflow™ water conditioner device and regulated deficit irrigation. Additionally, these trials were to be conducted on saline clay soils.

Objective Evaluate the effect of Ecoflow™ and regulated deficit irrigation on yield and sugar content of tomatoes grown under regulated deficit irrigation in saline sodic soils.

Morrill Industries Ecoflow™ Soil Column Study – Final Report

Prepared by: The Center for Irrigation Technology (CIT) California State University, Fresno
Results

1. Flow Rate/ Hydraulic Conductivity
a. For the De Luz and CIT (Sandy Loam) soils, a statistically significant difference between the treated and control hydraulic conductivity was observed.

2. Chemical Analysis
a. De Luz Soil
i. A statistically significant difference was observed in the initial samples for sodium, carbonate/bicarbonate, and nitrate between the treated and control columns
ii. The langelier index (L.I.) also showed a statistically significant difference between treated and control.
b. CIT (Sandy Loam)
i. A statistically significant difference in bicarbonate/carbonate concentration was observed in the initial sampling round.
c. Valley Soil
i. No significant difference was evident for the valley soil initially, but after day 37, a statistically significant difference was observed for the L.I. between control and treated samples.