Blog Post

You don't know NANO?

Jenny Phillips, Director of Marketing • Dec 07, 2020

Aqua-Yield FAQ

Learning about the latest technologies and products in agriculture can often be overwhelming and intimidating.  Below are some of the frequently asked questions and answers about nanoliquids, NanoShield® technology, our products, and crop response.


Technical Topics


How do nanoliquids work?

Aqua-Yield® nanoliquid products effectively work as a delivery system for nutrients and crop protection products. The NanoShield® protects molecules from environmental losses and efficiently delivers them to plants at the cellular level. A process called endocytosis brings the NanoShield® particles into the cell where the “payload” is emptied. 


What is NanoShield® technology?

NanoShield® is a proven, patented technology that encapsulates the inputs you already use into tiny nanoparticles that glide through foliar and root barriers, lodging themselves in the right locations within a plant to deliver their payloads. Nanotechnology is relatively new in agriculture but is being studied and used across multiple fields including science, mechanics, electronics, biology, and medicine.


How do NanoShield® particles load and unload?

Particles can load in a couple ways:

  1. Electrical charges play a role where opposites attract. Some particles can be negatively or positively charged to attract desired nutrients. For example, a negative charged particle will attract potassium or calcium. 
  2. Diffusion is where areas of high concentration move to areas of low concentration. For example, a tank fill of UAN 28% will migrate into empty nanoparticles when NanoN+™ is added to the tank. This process “loads” the nanoparticles, which are now ready for delivery to the crop.

The processes above operate in reverse once inside plant cells.


Are Aqua-Yield® nanoliquids organic?

Short answer is no. While Aqua-Yield® promotes environmental stewardship through NanoShield® technology by increasing absorption with less, it is not considered organic. However, Aqua-Yield® is developing products to be launched in 2021 that promote efficient delivery and absorption technology for organic cropping systems through the Omni Crop Care brand (omnicropcare.com).





Product Use Topics


What kind of different nanoliquid products does Aqua-Yield® offer?

  • NanoPro® is our crop protection product. 
  • NanoRise®, NanoN+™, NanoPhos®, NanoK®, NanoGro®, NanoStress®, and NanoCS™ are our current line of macronutrient products. 
  • NanoZn™, NanoCalsi™, and NanoPack™ are our current line of micronutrient products.


What rate do I apply Aqua-Yield® nanoliquid products?

Our general application rate is 2-6 oz. per acre. Application recommendations may vary based crop and on soil or in-season tissue testing. Low use rates make Aqua-Yield® nanoliquids easy to use and incorporate into many liquid programs.


What is the grower’s cost?

$2.65-$7.90 per acre.


Do I need to change my current fertility program?

You don’t have to change your program to add Aqua-Yield®. Adding our nanoliquid products into your current fertility and crop protection program is easy. Our solutions enhance the efficiency of your current crop inputs without disrupting your current approach.


How can Aqua-Yield® nanoliquids be applied?

Aqua-Yield® products can be applied with any application of liquid fertilizer or crop protection including in-furrow, banded, broadcast, foliar, and irrigated. Aqua-Yield® nanoliquids are truly easy to implement and are user friendly.


What is the shelf life of Aqua-Yield® products?

Aqua-Yield® nanoliquids stay in suspension and will not fall out.


Can I mix Aqua-Yield® nanoliquids with any crop input product?

Aqua-Yield® products are highly compatible with many crop input products. A compatibility test is recommended before applying combinations of this product with any other product. Aqua-Yield® products are not intended to be used with solid fertilizers.


Can I use multiple Aqua-Yield® products in an application and/or throughout a growing season?

We generally recommend that products are chosen based on soil or in-season tissue testing as well as nutrient requirements of the specific crop. If a grower wants to mix multiple nanoliquid products for one application, they should consult with an Aqua-Yield® representative.


What order should I mix Aqua-Yield® products with other ag inputs?

  1. Add water
  2. Add Aqua-Yield® nanoliquid
  3. Add fertilizer



Crop Response Topics


Can Aqua-Yield® nanoliquids be applied only on certain crops and/or areas of the country?

No matter the crop or location, growers are yielding the benefits of our nanoliquid products. Our nanoliquids have delivered success across the toughest proving grounds in North America and the world. Aqua-Yield® has had proven success on many crops from turf, citrus, melons, corn, soybeans, wheat, alfalfa, and many more.


How have nanoliquids been tested?

Aqua-Yield® has conducted a vigorous trial campaign to prove the nanotechnology. Over 650 trials have been conducted with many of these on-farm trials: America’s proving grounds. Aqua-Yield® has also enlisted several universities and third-party cooperators to test products head-to-head with the industry standard fertility and crop protection programs. 


What crop response should I expect?

There are several things to look for when using Aqua-Yield® nanoliquids:

  1. Crop quality: When key nutrients and protectants are delivered to crops at the cellular level, expect a significant plant response. Aqua-Yield® has measured many quality aspects including reduced bitter pit in apples to increased brix in melons.
  2. Crop yield: The efficient delivery of nutrients and crop protectants has been measured with increased yields in many crops. The new NanoCS™ has proven to increase corn yields 5-40%. Potato nanoliquid programs have delivered similar results.

 

What kind of ROI (return on investment) should growers expect?

With over 650 trials conducted using Aqua-Yield® nanoliquids a 3:1 return has been determined. 


By Jenny Phillips, Director of Marketing 01 Feb, 2024
Some of their success has been attributed to two sustainable product lines which continue to prove their worth in providing early and faster growth, more healthy plants and cost-effective returns on investment: Calcine® and nanotechnology-based products from Aqua-Yield®.
By Jenny Phillips, Director of Marketing 06 Dec, 2023
Aqua-Yield® was excited to partner with Beck's again this year and trial some of our nanoliquid® products through their PFR (Practical Farm Research) program. Our 2-year multi-location trials show how our technology helps growers take their inputs to the next level. We strive to become PFR Proven next year!
By Brit Hunter, Technical Agronomist 30 Nov, 2023
NanoPro is the Aqua-Yield® flagship carrier adjuvant for crop protection applications. Add NanoPro to any Plant Growth Regulator (PGR) product to increase plant uptake and amplify the end result for crops. PGR products mimic natural plant hormones that either promote or slow plant growth. The chemical structure of PGR products is highly synergistic with Aqua-Yield nanotechnology.
More Posts
Share by: