Dear Steve Diver and netters
Thank you for your mail. The information is very useful to us.
1. The purpose of using the reduced water is mainly prevention of leaf burn
by the oxidized water.
We apply the oxidized water (O-water, pH 2.6) to crops and then, after the
surface of leaves dries up, do the reduced water (R-water, pH 11) to them.
Using the O-water needs some cares. For example, we cannot use the O-water
when the weather is bad because the surface of leaves does not dry up
easily, and when the crops does not get root taking yet (in either case,
leaf burn arise). On the other hand, R-water using prevents implements from
eroding by the O-water.
The salt water for being electrolyzed contains KCl, so the R-water contains
K+. It is said that this K+ plays role for the healthy growing of plants,
but there are some opinions about that. As the matter stands, there is not
detailed study about that. The O-water includes chloride and hypochloride.
The manufacturer of the system says that the chloride content of the O-water
(pH 2.6) is 16 to 18 ppm, but the tank firstly O-water stored has about
100ppm chloride inside, so we have to shut it tightly. We do not hear
problems about chloride for the time being.
2. Basically, we use the waters in the same way except the amount used and
frequency to each crop.
3. One of the things we try to study now is “materials circulatory farming
system”. We lay emphasis on best soil for each crop and the healthy, strong
growing of plants against plant pathogens. As the same time, we reconsider
the Japanese traditional (or old style?) fertilization system. This
fertilizer contains natural materials (poultry and cow dung [fermented
enough], dead leaves, dry grasses, oil meal, and so on).
A report says that the cost of pesticide using is about 8,000 dollars a year
in 3,000〜4,000 square meters field in our horticultural area(H.Kouno 1997,
in Japanese). By using the electrolyzed water, it is possible to cut down
the pesticides costs by thirty-five percent (H.Kouno 1997, in Japanese). The
feature of Japanese protected horticulture (in greenhouse) is throwing a
lot of chemical fertilizer, manure, pesticides and other chemical materials
to small field (about 2,500 square meters [average] of field per farm
household in Japan [Kochi prefecture announcement 1997, in Japanese]).
Inevitably this farming style costs much, so we have to buy expensive
vegetables, fruits, and flowers. Of course, salt accumulation and overuse of
pesticides is serious problem.
Many horticultural farmers unwillingly applies pesticides to crops directly
in the greenhouse with "taking a shower" of pesticides. So, some of them
think that the costs of the water making system is relatively cheap for
decreasing amount of pesticides using and for their own health.
Here are some explanations about the water system we are using by
manufacturer (this page has simple English page). You can send inquiries by
mail in English.
http://www.aiken.co.jp/index.htm
Thanks
Keishi Matsumura
GOHOKU INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURE
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