The document summarizes research on using super oxygenated water for irrigation in high tunnel tomato and strawberry production. The research found that maintaining oxygen levels at 12 ppm in irrigation water increased strawberry yields by 18.3% and tomato yields by 15.8% through mid-September, due to higher fruit numbers rather than size. The yield increases were smaller after mid-September with cooler temperatures. Overall, oxygenated water increased total strawberry yields by 6.6% and tomato yields by 8.4% for the season.

1. Using super oxygenated water in high
tunnel tomato and strawberry
production
Terrance T. Nennich, Extension Professor
Vegetable and Small Fruit Production
University of Minnesota Extension
nenni001@umn.edu

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Oxygen and plants
• Uptake of nutrients
• Root growth
• Overall plant growth
• Resistance to insect and disease
• Fruit yield

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Oxygen and Plant Roots
• No nutrient absorption occurs at the root
zone unless oxygen is present. At a
molecular level oxygen is required to
transmit nutrients across the cell wall and
into the roots.

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Oxygen and Calcium
•
Oxygen is required to get nutrients in, but
calcium is required to make nutrients mobile
within plant tissue. This is critical if nutrients
are to be used properly by the plant.

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Uptake of Nutrients
• Root Level - 02 goes across the cell wall
and into the roots
Increased 02 levels at roots, nutrient
absorption increases
• Ideal temperature for absorption is 65 -75
degrees

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Uptake of Nutrients
• Warmer –Increase plant growth
• Cooler – slow down nutrient uptake.
• Constant feeding – available may help.
• Variance between crop and variety

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Research Question
• If the oxygen levels in high tunnel irrigation
water, used through the drip tape was
maintained at about 12 ppm would the yield
and or quality of strawberries and tomatoes
and the fruit be affected.

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Crops that Demand High Fertiliity
• Tomatoes
• Cucumbers
• Egg Plants
• Okra
• Peppers

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Crops that use medium fertility
• Strawberries
• Raspberries
• Fruit Trees
• Beans
• Potatoes ??
• Carrots

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Low Fertility Crops
• Lettuce
• Spinach
• Greens
• Beans
• Some cole crops

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Untreated Water
• Most well water will contain about 1-3 ppm of
oxygen
• Some water sources can contain more
• How the water is pumped and moved can
make a difference.

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Machinery for water treatment
• Water Dog Machine
• Model WD2C-HD
• Built for us by Gorecki MFG of Milaca Mn
• This is a experimental machine and is not
available at this time

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Annual Strawberry Production
• Variety : Evie -2
• Planting date : Spring 2013
• First Harvest early August 2013
• Repricated in four blocks
• 21X48 high tunnel

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STRAWBERRY OXYGEN SUPPLEMENTATION SUMMARY
Berry Yield thru Total Yield
Size (gms) 9/16 (lbs) 10/14 (lbs)
Block 1 Oxygen 10.7 28.3 53.7
Block 1 None 11.2 23.2 51.8
Block 2 Oxygen 10.6 24.9 47.2
Block 2 None 10.1 21.8 42.9
Total Oxygen 10.7 53.2 101.0
Total No Treatment 10.7 45.0 94.7
Percent O2 Advantage -0.2% 18.3% 6.6%
Confidence Level % -- 99 71

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19.9%
24.1%
23.9%
19.7%
15.9%
16.8%
18.3%
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
CumulativePounds
ofFruit
Strawberry Oxygen Supplementation 2013
Yields through mid-September
Oxygen Treated
Non-Treated
% Difference

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19.9%
24.1%
23.9%
19.7%
15.9%
16.8%
18.3%
17.6%
15.4%
11.9%
10.6%
8.8%
6.9%
5.9%
6.6%
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
CumulativePounds
ofFruit Strawberry Oxygen Supplementation 2013
Oxygen Treated
Non-Treated
% Difference

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Strawberry research results
• Data was analyzed until mid September and
the entire season
• Until Mid September the strawberry yield
increased 18.3 %
• No increase in berry weight, large increase
in number of berries.
• Increase was less after mid September, cool
temperatures.

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Tomato oxygen study
• Variety : BHN 589 grafted with Maxiford
• Planted: spring 2013
• Harvest : August 2013
• Replicated in four blocks
• 21X48 high tunnel

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Tomato research results
• Data was analyzed until mid September and
the entire season
• Until Mid September the tomato yield
increased 16 %
• No increase in individual tomato weight,
large increase in number of tomatoes.
• Increase was less after mid September, cool
temperatures.

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11.8%
17.2%
16.3%
17.9%
13.7%
15.8%
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
8/23 8/26 8/29 9/1 9/4 9/7 9/10 9/13 9/16
Cumulative
PoundsofTotalFruit
Oxygen Supplementation - Tomatoes 2013
Yields through Mid-September
Oxygen Treated
Non-Treated
% Difference

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11.8%
17.2%
16.3%
17.9%
13.7%
15.8%
11.5%
8.9%
6.8%
5.6%
5.7%
6.0%
5.1%
8.4%
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1000
8/23 8/27 8/31 9/4 9/8 9/12 9/16 9/20 9/24 9/28 10/2 10/6 10/10 10/14
Cumulative
PoundsofTotalFruit
Oxygen Supplementation - Tomatoes 2013
Oxygen Treated
Non-Treated
% Difference

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Total Yield Total Yield Total Yield
Fruit thru 9/16 thru 10/14 thru 10/14
Size (Good & Imperfect) (Good & Imperfect) (Good, Imperfect, Green)
(lb/fruit) (lbs) (lb) (lbs)
Block 1 Oxygen 0.49 135 499 772
Block 1 None 0.50 131 466 699
Block 2 Oxygen 0.53 142 462 858
Block 2 None 0.53 109 421 809
Total Oxygen 0.51 278 961 1631
Total No Treatment 0.51 240 887 1508
Percent O2 Advantage -1.1% 15.8% 8.4% 8.2%
Confidence Level % -- 83 89 84

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Research Summary
• Research findings from this study indicates
that annual strawberry yield and tomato yield
was significantly increased using
oxygenated water of 12 ppm.
• With both strawberries and tomatoes the
increase came from the number of fruit
produced and not the weight of individual
fruit.

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Research Summary
• The better the weather growing conditions
the more results
• Planed on repeating trials again in 2014.
• Also Flowers

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Research Observations
• Followed by Disease 2014 study

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Managing Soil Oxygen
• Non compacted loose soil
• Organic Matter
• Oxygen injection
• High yields will need more oxygen
• Variation in watering
• Non soaked soils

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Water Yield Data
• Cucumber plants without water going in
peak production
No break in watering 32 pounds plant
24 hours with out water 28 pounds plant
48 hours with out water 23 pounds plant
72 hours with out water 16 pounds plant
96 hours with out water 3 pounds plant.

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• As you start your high tunnel up
for the 2015 season I wish you
all the best season ever.

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Questions
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