Dear Reader,
In the last edition of our Agriculture Upgrade we mentioned a presentation on polymeric adjuvants to be delivered by Simon Rose, Application Research Manager Agriculture, at the New Ag International Conference & Exhibition in Turkey. Simon showed that polymeric adjuvants incorporated into various foliar fertiliser solutions improved their deposition.

As we have received many enquiries from around the world for more information on this topic we have prepared an abstract for you to download (PDF/0.2MB). For further information, please contact us.

In this edition of Agriculture Update, we will take a closer look at polyacrylamide (PAM) soil stabilizers of Ciba which are used in diverse agriculture applications:

Irrigation without/with PAM - 30% infiltration increase - 95% erosion reduction

Polyacrylamide (PAM) based Soil Stabilizers It has been known for a long time that soil crumbs owe their stability in part to naturally occurring polymeric materials which bind to the soil. However, first trials with synthetic polymers proved to be uneconomical. In 1982 Allied Colloids (now part of Ciba) introduced the first commercially successful PAM soil stabilizers and more recently has introduced the range of Ciba® SOILFIX® products for a larger variety of applications in agriculture.

Download SOILFIX® Brief (PDF/0.8MB) for more information.

PAM provide a variety of benefits to farmers and growers:

• Improved seed germination
  PAM are used to prevent soil capping and crusting, therefore increasing water infiltration and allowing young seedlings to germinate easily.
• Erosion control and irrigation management
  In surface irrigated fields PAM are applied to maintain water infiltration and prevent soil erosion. Water infiltration increases over 30% and erosion reductions over 95% have been documented.

Best Practices with PAM

Citrus farm of David Ingerson

Improved salinity management and water efficiency ”Water efficiency is a key concern for us. We have achieved incredible results with a PhD study on the use of polyacrylamides – which act like a sponge attracting water and stopping it from draining deeper into the soil. By spreading tiny amounts of the polymers four times a year, we have cut our water use by 15%.” David Ingerson, Citrus Grower, Australia

0.5 bale increase per ha off large areas
"The use of Pam's is now a standard management approach that appears to both increase the irrigation efficiency and increase fertilisation utilisation while reducing water induced erosion to negligible levels. The multiple effects of the product have produced significant yield and efficiency increases over large irrigated areas."
Andrew Parkes, Keytah Farm Manager and Consultant, Australia

Polymer Application Group - Agriculture (PAG AG)
With the PAG AG team, comprising of Andrew McHugh (Australia), Bob Greensmith (UK) and Larry Wilde (USA), Ciba Specialty Chemicals builds class leading global competence for the use of polymers in diverse agriculture applications. Working closely together with our customers and industry experts, the team develops best practices and drives the development of more effective and efficient PAM solutions for soil stabilization.

For more information on our Ciba® SOILFIX® range of polyacrylamide (PAM) products visit our website or contact us.

Andrew McHugh, Head PAG AG Andrew, a graduate agronomist from the University of Queensland, Australia, has been with Ciba for 21 years. Immediately after graduating, Andrew was self employed as an agricultural consultant for a number of years in the cotton industry introducing the then new concept of integrated pest management to a number of innovative growers. After a season long stint in the Kingdom of Saudia Arabia "growing wheat in the desert", Andrew was employed by Allied Colloids (now part of Ciba).

He contributed significantly to the development of the Ciba® SOILFIX® range of products and is now heading the Polymer Application Group - Agriculture (PAG AG). Andrew is married, has two grown up daughters and is living in Towoomba, Australia.