Root-zone water retention for center pivot irrigation

Efficient irrigation in center pivot systems depends not only on how evenly water is applied, but also on how the soil holds and distributes it through the root zone. Against growing groundwater constraints in major U.S. production regions, Loveland Products introduced Aqua Force, a soil-focused water use efficiency product designed to improve irrigation water behavior in the field.

Designed for water movement and retention in the root zone
Aqua Force is engineered to improve the way irrigation water interacts with soil under center pivot application. The formulation targets three irrigation-relevant soil parameters: infiltration, water distribution through the soil profile, and water retention in the root zone.

Unlike standard soil surfactants and wetting agents that mainly reduce surface tension to promote wetting, Aqua Force is positioned as a water-use efficiency formulation that supports more uniform movement of water through soil while helping maintain moisture where crops can access it.

It is also designed to help reduce soil compaction-related limitations by supporting water movement through impacted zones, improving the likelihood that irrigation water reaches and remains within active root depth.

IRF 2024 trials: +9 bushels/acre in corn under pivot
In 2024, the Irrigation Research Foundation (IRF) in Yuma, Colorado evaluated Aqua Force in corn using center pivot applications. The trial produced an average yield increase of 9 bushels per acre across all production zones.

In an additional site in Oklahoma, the application of Aqua Force maintained higher soil moisture levels at 0–6 inches throughout the growing season, supporting moisture availability near the surface zone where early root activity and uptake dynamics are most sensitive to drying cycles. The moisture retention effect reduced water loss pathways, such as evaporation and runoff, by increasing the proportion of applied irrigation retained within crop-usable soil zones.

Water efficiency relevance in Ogallala-dependent regions
Aqua Force is intended for irrigated production areas facing increasing groundwater pressure, including regions drawing from the Ogallala Aquifer, which can experience annual declines of one to two feet. In such environments, improving water retention and uniform infiltration can increase the productivity of each pivot irrigation pass by keeping more applied water within the crop’s active zone rather than distributing unevenly or moving beyond effective depth.

Positioning within irrigation and soil management strategies
Aqua Force is designed for growers who need to maintain yield potential while improving soil moisture performance under modern irrigation constraints. The formulation is positioned as an input supporting operational efficiency by reducing wasted irrigation water and limiting the need for repeated irrigation adjustments. It also aligns with longer-term soil performance goals by supporting root-zone moisture stability and reducing compaction-related irrigation inefficiencies, which can influence yield response and seasonal water planning within a broader digital supply chain of agricultural production.

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