Table of Contents
Agriculture doesn’t come without challenges, whether you are growing fruits, vegetables, and flowers in a greenhouse or a wide variety of cannabis products in a grow house. Technology has unlocked a new class of science, showing how growing today is very different from a decade ago.
New technologies such as nanobubbles are impacting the bottom line by providing the ability to improve irrigation processes, providing more nutrients to the roots of plants, and increasing the size and quality of plants. The use of nanobubble technology in agriculture is on the rise due to the tangible benefits this technology offers.
Nanobubble technology is a sustainable, chemical-free approach that helps improve soil structure and water quality and conserve water. It can increase water’s ability to infiltrate soil, which increases crop yield and health and decreases the amount of water lost to evaporation and runoff. It is an innovative approach that has great potential across various fields, especially in agriculture.
When used properly, nanobubble technology has the ability to reduce fertilizer needs, improve yields, shorten crop cycle times, and disease control by raising dissolved oxygen levels, thereby improving water quality, and cleaning water systems. Higher yields and better quality with fewer inputs is a double revenue booster. It’s both cost-effective and a win for sustainability.
The Science Behind Nanobubbles
By virtue of their size, nanobubbles have qualities that regular bubbles can’t match. As an example, rather than quickly rising to the surface and popping, nanobubbles remain suspended in water and stay in constant motion for as long as they persist.
Side-by-side comparison of plants irrigated with water treated by nanobubbles and plants without treatment have shown nanobubbles can deliver:
- Significantly increased germination rates
- Increased dissolved oxygen levels
- Improved nutrient uptake
- Reduced biofilm and pathogen buildup
- Significant improvements in yields, and much more.
Anytime you change the attributes of your water, you change everything that the water touches where so many aspects of cultivation can be impacted by simple changes in water and water treatment.
Why Dissolved Oxygen is Important in Agriculture
Better roots mean better plant health. Without a thriving root system, money spent on other processes is wasted. Raising the oxygen level in the irrigation water produces plants with a better, more vigorous root system, whether growing in soil, substrate, or hydroponic systems.
Nanobubbles are generated through an electrolysis process, where water is decomposed into hydrogen and oxygen gases due to an electric potential. These unique ultrafine gas bubbles provide sustainable solutions for enhancing plant health and crop productivity. Nanobubbles appear transparent and remain suspended for several weeks due to their small size, high surface area to volume ratio, and unique surface properties.
Higher oxygen levels at the roots mean better root growth and more root cell energy generation, providing better nutrient uptake. All other things equal, the plant with more efficient nutrient uptake is a healthier plant with more resilience to stressors. Eliminating nutrient uptake as a limiting factor frees you to concentrate on other plant growth factors.
Nanobubbles Provide Water Quality Improvements
One of the most significant benefits of nanobubble technology is its ability to improve water quality in aquaculture environments. Nanobubbles help remove contaminants and break down organic materials in water, reducing the amount of chemicals needed to maintain adequate water quality for farmed organisms.
Adding nanobubble to growing processes doesn’t just increase DO. The unique properties produced when introducing nanobubbles help to improve water quality, increase the ability of irrigation systems to remove biofilm and help to prevent disease-causing pathogens. Their strong oxidation properties also enable the elimination of harmful bacteria and viruses and offer a safe, chemical-free alternative for water disinfection.
Any time new technology is introduced to a controlled environment, growers tend to balance optimism with skepticism. It’s an industry where everyone believes that “seeing is believing”., and the visible results experienced when nanobubble are introduced put these tiny workhorses in the limelight. Nanobubbles are naturally occurring in nature, but technology has allowed nanobubble manufacturers to recreate and improve on nature’s work.
Solving Grower Pain Points with Nanobubble Tech
Research has revealed dramatic results with the use of nanobubble technology. When working in any agricultural environment, growers need to stay focused on the three “P”’s: pathogens, production, and profitability. Growers, especially those in the cannabis industry, have to find a way to fight pathogens without the use of chemicals. To accomplish this requires a different approach, one where nanobubbles can help.
Typically, when growers consider the use of pesticides, it is with the intent to apply directly to the plant. So, if pathogens are transmitted through the water and interact with the plant from the roots, the effects of pesticides will most likely be minimal. But with nanobubble technology, you can improve the ability of plants to fight off pathogens at the source, creating a scenario where pathogens are stopped before they even touch the plants.
Production and profitability go hand in hand, where nanobubble-treated water can significantly impact yields while maintaining and improving crop performance and quality overall.
The Impact On The Environment
Due to the increasing growth that nanotechnology has seen over the past several years, it has proven its ability to impact things at the atomic and molecular level with the help of properties such as oxygen nanobubbles and ozone nanobubbles.
In addition to its ability to control biofilm and improve root uptake of nutrients, when used in the irrigation of green spaces, it removes dangerous microbes and pollutants, making it safe for the environment. In greenhouse cultivation as an example, a large portion of the water that the plant does not actually use is discharged as drainage, which, if its volume is large enough, can be considered and used as a source of return water. Under normal conditions, these return water sources contain pollutants and toxins.
One of the standout features of nanobubble technology used as a sustainable approach not only helps to conserve water but also ensures that water resources are used more efficiently, aligning with global efforts to address water scarcity and environmental sustainability.
Conclusion
As the agricultural industry evolves to meet the demands of a growing global population and environmental challenges, nanobubble technology offers a path forward for sustainable and efficient use in greenhouses and grow houses.
Nanobubble technology represents a revolution in water treatment and oxygenation in aquaculture. With a range of devices available, this technology has become accessible for various farming systems. The benefits of improved oxygenation, pathogen control, and chemical reduction make nanobubbles a crucial ally for sustainable and profitable aquaculture.
At a time when sustainability is a priority, water treatment with nanobubble technology is an innovative solution that can help transform the future of agriculture, offering a healthier environment for organisms and ensuring more efficient and responsible plant production.
Contact SafetyNet today at info@safetynetamerica.com to discover how we can help empower your business with this fantastic new technology.
