We often hear the claim, ‘We cannot use Intra Hydropure because we are using biostimulants in our drip or sprinkler systems.’ Our first thought: all the more reason to use Intra Hydropure! We will tell you why and how.

Intra Hydropure is a unique silver-stabilised disinfectant based on hydrogen peroxide. When reacting with organic compounds, it slowly decomposes in water and oxygen. Intra Hydropure will react with all organic substances inside the irrigation systems. This trait results in a biofilm-free irrigation system, creating a smooth surface in your kilometres of pipelines in the greenhouse.

Biofilm might seem just a dead slimy layer but this is not the case. Biofilm is an engineered city of micro-organisms and minerals. The fertilisers in the irrigation water passing through serve as nutrients for the biofilm to keep a steady growth.

When organic biostimulants are added to the mixture, they can adhere to the biofilm, creating larger obstructions that can easily block drip emitters, micro-sprinklers, or other components of the irrigation system.

Less efficiency of nutrients

Besides the danger of blocked drippers, there will be a reduced efficiency of your biostimulants in presence of a biofilm. In Figure 1 we have illustrated what happens inside the drip line with nutrients and organic biostimulants when biofilm is present. You dose a certain amount of product or fertiliser in the beginning of the line, but when lines are dirty, nutrients will deposit on the biofilm and eventually they will not end up with the plants. In that case, the uniformity and efficacy of the supplied supplements will be less.

Figure 1. Overview of two dripping lines. The line above has biofilm on the surface on the inside of the irrigation system. Biostimulants and nutrients (orange) are absorbed by the biofilm and do not end up at the plants. The bottom line is clean from the beginning to the end, making sure nutrients are distributed more homogeneous to all the plants.

Solution: alternate Intra Hydropure and biostimulants

Clean lines make sure that when you dose the biostimulant, it will reach the first and the last plant in line with the same amount. Contact your Intra Hydropure sales representative to get specific advise for your situation.

To summarise

By using Intra Hydropure, you ensure that your irrigation lines remain clean. Because of the clean irrigation system, nutrients and organic biostimulants will become more effective. Products based on organics should not be used simultaneously with Intra Hydropure, but with an interval in between. Start dosing Intra Hydropure again after the use of biostimulants, to make sure residues that might cause blockages in the future are removed.

* Intra Hydropure is subject to local registration requirements. Registrations may vary per region. Ask your distributor about the permitted application.