"MP" (Micronized PAM) can be used on farms under various conditions to give less soil erosion, more efficient water use, more efficient fertilizer use, better tillability of soil, better survival and growth of plants, less dust (PM10 and PM2.5), enhanced value of organics and other soil amendments, less soil crusting with more and faster seed emergence, easier weed removal, better soil aeration to improve root growth, more crop yield, fewer soil-borne diseases, better success when irrigating with reclaimed water, cleaner harvest of root crops, less compacted soil, a more perfect bed for seeds, and earlier crop maturity. Not only is Better Soil a major result but also more response to all other Best Management Practices will be obtained. This sequential additivity is explained in the book references in Part 1.

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B. Various Farm Use Activities

1. Control of furrow-irrigation erosion.
2. Control of dust in many places (roads, farms, lake beds, vineyards, orchards, industry; etc).
3. Improve crop yields (aeration, etc.).
4. Prevent Crusting. aid seed emergence.
5. Conserve irrigation water.
6. Enhance rain-fed agriculture.
7. With gypsum to enhance water use efficiency.
8. In bioremediation of oil-contaminated land.
9. With gypsum (dry) to reclaim sodic soil and also to make problem soils better aerated.
10. For helping to solve excess poultry manure and related problems.
11. In foliar sprays to increase their efficiency.
12. PAM for transplanting.
13. PAM in fluid fertilizer solutions.
14. In deep ripping of orchards and of old orchard land, it will protect value of deep ripping in orchards having compacted zones in subsoil.
15. With gypsum in low-till farming.
16. To stop fertilizer, pesticide, and microbe runoff from farms to streams or lakes.
17. Renovation of old alfalfa fields.

The technologies outline ways that the given activities may be accomplished.

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C. Technologies for Using "MP" (Micronized PAM)

1. A concentrated concentration of ammonium sulfate is prepared, and "MP" PAM is stirred into the solution to produce a 5 percent by weight or 6% by volume aqueous suspension. The suspension can easily be injected into irrigation systems.

2. A 1.0 to 1.4 solution of "MP" can be prepared in calcium solution to include 2% or more calcium in a final solution. Calcium nitrate and calcium chloride are commonly used. Either solution or granular calcium nitrate may be used.

3. "MP" can be applied with stirring into fertilizer solutions. Those preparing solution may elect to add the "MP" into a side spout so that the "MP" is always going into fresh water. Ammonium sulfate of from 1 to 8 percent is conveniently used for putting "MP" into solution.

4. Dry "MP" can be applied dry to soil with a Herd Feeder or similar equipment at rates of 1 to 10 or even more pounds per acre. It could be diluted with some gypsum for convenience in application. Prior to application of the "MP", gypsum should be broadcast and both are then tilled into the soil. Because of the small particles, the procedure is almost as efficient as solution application. Apply with no wind; use a dust mask.

5. A blend of 5%"MP"- 95% gypsum with much of it at -200 mesh or 10%"MP"-90% gypsum may be applied dry to give 1 to 10 or even more pounds per acre. After application, the blend is tilled into soil. The number of Micronized "MP" PAM particles per pound of soil for application of one pound per acre is 2.6 for 35 mesh (commercial), 21 for 60 mesh, 324 for 140 mesh, 2600 for 270 mesh, and 7500 for 400 mesh.

6. Examples of slurries that can be produced with MP at 6.0 (w/v) and 5.0 (w/w); some may be prepared in the field with a minimum of equipment. Numbers are pounds of ammonium sulfate, final volume of slurry in gallons, and pounds -270 "MP" respectively.

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D. More Specific Directions for Various Calcium-PAM Technologies

Solution-gypsum machines can be used to apply PAM to soil in irrigation water. See Part 1. PAM may be applied to soil through the appropriate gypsum machines either with gypsum or with a soluble calcium salt such as calcium nitrate or other nutrient salts.

Use the outline in Schedule "X" or use formula to calculate how much gypsum to add with a given amount of "MP"(PAM) in a 300-gallon tank (or 600 gallon if available). Add water and mechanically bring the gypsum water to a slurry. Then, with further agitation, apply the PAM; when in a uniform slurry the stirring may be stopped for a few hours, as the gypsum-PAM slurry will not settle out very rapidly.

The PAM-gypsum slurry is injected into the irrigation line. No screening should be needed because of large "fish-eyes" of partially dissolved PAM are absent.

How to Use Water-Soluble "MP" PAM in a Gypsum Slurry

(Caution: regular commercial PAMs cannot be used this way).

The gypsum machine must be capable of putting the gypsum into a dilute slurry and then mixing the slurry during the addition of the "MP" (Micronized PAM) without being too vigorous or fast enough to shear the PAM molecules.

Note: It is really necessary to adjust for excessive amounts of bicarbonate in the irrigation water when gypsum is used. Excess bicarbonate may precipitate some of the calcium and could clog irrigation lines. This is a problem for calcium but not for the PAM. Such materials as N-phuric acid have been used to destroy bicarbonates but these cannot be used because excess acidity ruins the PAM. The Verdegaal system may be used (see accompanying).

With Gypsum

Formula for use with a 300-gallon or 600-gallon tank.

PAM weight = gypsum weight x percent gypsum x 0.2326 x ppm PAM wanted divided by Parts per million (ppm) calcium wanted.

The formula is independent of size of tank but the dilution ratio will be varied as tank volume varies and the weights remain constant.

Example: For 2000 pounds gypsum at 92% gypsum and 60 ppm calcium wanted with 2 ppm PAM wanted:

2000 x 0.92 x 0.2326 x 2 divided by 60 = 14.26 pounds PAM.

The same amount is obtained for 10 ppm PAM and 300 ppm Ca.

Note: There is an upper limit for how much PAM may be used with a given amount of gypsum. The 14.2 pounds in this example is near the upper limit for 2000 pounds of gypsum in 300 gallons. Schedule "X" that follows is an indication of what is useful.

CAUTION: PAM is Slippery When Wet and Spilled on Surfaces!

Caution: Keep out of reach of children. Clean up after dry spills by sweeping or vacuuming before the material becomes wet. Hose off spilled solutions. The addition of soil to the solution PAM stops the slipperiness. Wet soil conditioner washes off of hands with copious amounts of water. The addition of gypsum or soil to wet hands or skin will help to remove the soil conditioner.

After use, machinery may be washed with very dilute acid solution or very dilute solution of iron sulfate provided that the wash water is not permitted to stain cement or masonry. Crop oil may also be used.

When mixing "MP" (Micronized PAM), wearing of gloves and a mask is recommended.

"MP" (Micronized PAM) is not toxic. It is food grade. It is patented.

Schedule "X": Some possible combinations of gypsum and "MP" (Micronized PAM) in a 300-gallon tank for farm use.

One quart PAM is approximately 1.4 pounds.

**In some cases 1.2% PAM may be prepared where 1.0% is indicated.

***Assumes the gypsum is 100% pure. Multiply by the appropriate fraction if it is not.

 

With Calcium Nitrate

In a 300-gallon (1134 liter) solution-gypsum machine, add with water three eighty-pound (36.3 kg) or4 to 5 fifty-lb bags (22.7 kg) of solution-grade granular calcium nitrate (15.5-0-0-19 Ca) and make solution to near 300 gallons with agitation or stirring. With stirring apply quantity of "MP" (Micronized PAM) wanted according to Schedule "Y". After PAM is fully in solution the stirring device can be slowed to near zero or zero. The resulting solution is injected into irrigation lines or diluted into a stream flow. Schedule "Y" gives recommended concentrations for various purposes.

Schedule "Y" for using "MP" (Micronized PAM) with dry granular calcium nitrate (15.5-0-0-19 Ca) and a solution-gypsum machine for farm use.

(for 300 gallons).

Three eighty-pound (4 or 5 fifty-pound) bags of solution-grade calcium nitrate are put into the 300 gallon level with water in the gypsum machine; one-third to one-half the needed water is best to start if remainder of water can be rapidly applied. When the calcium nitrate is in solution, "MP" (Micronized PAM) as needed is added with stirring. Then water is added to the proper volume with more stirring. When solution is stable, additional stirring is not needed.

With 25 pounds of "MP" (Micronized PAM) (1% PAM w/v) in 300 gallons.

These concentrations should cover most problems being corrected.

Equivalent calcium chloride may be used instead of calcium nitrate.

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E. "MP" (Micronized PAM) in Fluid Fertilizers

"MP" (Micronized PAM) may be applied to soil with fluid fertilizers. At dealer or distributor centers, PAM is applied to various fertilizer mixes to make 1 percent (w/v) solutions. The (w/w) basis will be a little less but 1%(w/w) can be prepared; actually 1.5(w/w)% has been made. PAM is not compatible with inorganic iron, copper, and zinc and these should not be combined with PAM. "MP" (Micronized PAM) may be carefully added into fertilizer tanks with fertilizers already in solution all with stirring.

How the fertilizer-PAM is applied to soil will depend upon dealer procedures.

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F. Erosion Control with "MP" (Micronized PAM) Without Calcium

Furrow irrigation erosion control with PAM is widespread over hundreds of thousands acres in the USA and elsewhere. Various application procedures are in place. Some of them are conducive to use with "MP" (Micronized PAM) and can be.

The advantage for the "MP" (Micronized PAM) over conventional PAM is its rapid solution. It will not clog filters or sprinklers. The solution can be made as close to the irrigation line outlets as desired. The amount of disturbance to obtain solution will be less than with conventional PAM. Dry granular "MP" (Micronized PAM) may be conveniently used without need for any emulsion PAM in kerosene that is more difficult to use. Where "MP is put into solution before entering a water stream, an aging period or storage tank is not needed.

Enhanced actively results from "MP" when calcium solutions are used. With gypsum applied to soil separately, lower application rates of "MP" are just as useful as with gypsum.

This technology is further explained in section "G" next.

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G. Different Ways that "MP" (Micronized PAM) may be applied to Control Erosion from Furrow Irrigation

1. If an applicator is used to apply dry PAM granules to an irrigation stream (the Gandy is one such device; PAM Meter is another), either -100+150 size or -150+270 size may be metered into the stream. As the PAM goes rapidly into solution because of its small size, it will not be necessary to locate the devices 100 feet or more ahead of the first furrow outlet nor will there be need for a large amount of turbulence to get proper dissolution of the PAM. The "MP" (Micronized PAM) flows easily as dry granules.

2. If stock solutions are prepared with "MP" (Micronized PAM), there are at least three different ways to prepare them:

(a) The -100+150 or -150+270 sizes may be metered into a stream of water flowing into a storage tank so that the dissolved PAM and the stream enter the tank simultaneously. The PAM is always going onto fresh water this way and as dissolution is rapid, a minimum of stirring only will be needed in the storage tank, a concentration of up to 2500 mg/liter (ppm) can easily be prepared this way.

(b) The oil emulsion PAM concentrate in kerosene need never be used. Instead, a 2½%, 5% (w/w), or even higher concentration of "MP" may be prepared in concentrated ammonium sulfate solutions like 50% (w/v). These are not true solutions as much of the "MP" is kept from solution by the ammonium sulfate in the form of a slurry. The -270 size of "MP" may be used here because of its very small size. This "MP" form in ammonium sulfate can flow easily into water without worry of an interface between "MP" and water. The 5%"MP" may be prediluted to 2500 ppm or more if wanted, otherwise ¾ ml per gallon of irrigation water (dilution ratio = 5000) will approximate 10 mg/liter (10 ppm). Higher dilutions will give lower concentrations. One gallon of 5% "MP" (w/w) equals about 0.5 pound PAM. The modest cost of ammonium sulfate can be included in the sales price.

(c) Any of the "MP" (Micronized PAM) sizes may be dissolved in calcium nitrate solutions for field work. For example, a 50-pound bag of solution-grade calcium nitrate is dissolved in about 7 or more gallons of water. Then with stirring, 7 pounds of PAM are stirred in. More water is added rapidly to give 84 gallons of 1% PAM (w/v) or to 56 gallons if 1.5% is wanted. Concentrations higher than 1.5% are difficult to handle. Weights and volumes can be adjusted to give whatever is needed. The 1% solution is diluted 1000 times to give l0 ppm. Solutions prepared with calcium nitrate have proved to be more effective than solutions prepared in water (about 2x) so less than 10 ppm should be enough for erosion control. See Schedule "Y" (in Section "D" above) for more directions. Regular PAM particle sizes cannot be used easily this way; the "MP" (Micronized PAM) has to be used.

3. There is hope that commonly used solution-gypsum machines can be used to inject PAM into furrow irrigation and also any type of irrigation system including center pivots. Again, only "MP" (Micronized PAM) may be used this way.

(a) With gypsum, variable amounts of gypsum according to what is wanted is added to the machine and brought to slurry with the stirrer. "MP" (Micronized PAM), according to need (formula or Schedule "X" see above) is stirred into the gypsum. When slurry is smooth it can be injected. Minimum stirring only of the concentrate will be needed thereafter,

(b) With calcium nitrate (or calcium chloride), instead of gypsum, calcium nitrate as discussed above can be prepared in the gypsum machine. Once in solution, continuous stirring is not needed. As with gypsum, Schedule "Y" is available for amounts wanted to be used.

It appears that the Diamond K solution gypsum machine cannot be used for this purpose. Other machines need testing.

There is considerable advantage for adding gypsum and calcium nitrate to soil and crops even without PAM. But both calcium and PAM together make a "powerful team".

Note: When used with either calcium or concentrated ammonium, with MP in erosion control, less than 10 ppm PAM should suffice. If only 1/5 as much PAM is needed, the addtional cost of MP is very cost effective.

Note: Addition of PAM to irrigation furrows containing a large quantity of soil sediment, is known in places to result in a decrease in water infiltration (Soil Sci. Soc. Amer.J. 64:1485-1495,2000). When large amounts of sediment are in the water, the settling out can seal the surface pores and slow down infiltration. This is rationale for using PAM to decrease seepage of water in canals and irrigation ditches. There must be a critical amount of sediment in the water for this to happen. Perhaps sediment may be applied to the canal water to decrease seepage from the canal.

Note: Same precautions as with other PAM; gloves and dust mask are recommended when handling dry PAM. Beware of slipperiness if any PAM is spilled.

The micronizing process does not appear to hinder the function of the PAM. There is some indication that the PAM may even be made to be better by the process.

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H. Dust Control of Orchard and Vineyard Soils.

Dust in orchards and vineyards can often be troublesome. Dust on leaves can slow down the rate of photosynthesis and can make insect control more difficult. Dust on fruit can decrease fruit quality and cause other problems. Dust-control measures like those used elsewhere (Parts 3 and 5) can be used in orchards and vineyards. Five or ten pounds Soil Prep "MP" (20 percent PAM in gypsum) can be dissolved in 1000 gallons or water that can be applied to vineyards and orchards with appropriate sprinklers— truck, tanker, or otherwise to control dust. Additional gypsum may be applied. The "MP" concentration will be 120 or 240 ppm. The application need be surface only so 1000 gallons will cover an acre or more depending on the percent of the land to be covered. Treatments need not be repeated until the land has been disturbed such as with tillage. Compost containing ""MP" and gypsum may be applied to achieve dust control if followed by irrigation. One ton of compost in ½ to 1 percent ""MP" per acre may suffice. Dust can be controlled when nuts are harvested from the soil surface by these procedures.

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I. Example Application Rates of "MP" (Micronized PAM) to Achieve Desired Effects on Farms.

All starting treatments should be made after planting and before any irrigation or rainfall.

For field work where effects last for one cropping season only:

1. 1 to 4 parts per million (ppm or mg/liter) in calcium solutions or in gypsum slurry for basic erosion control and some soil improvement; otherwise up to 10 ppm are used without calcium carriers.

2. 10 to 20 or more parts per million (mg/liter) or more in the same carriers for increased soil improvement. Similar rates are used to protect effects of deep ripping in orchards by allowing PAM-treated water to penetrate the depth of the ripping. Higher application like 50 to 100 part per million are used for high value crop for more benefits.

3. ¼, ½, 1 parts per million (mg/liter) in the same carriers for follow-up irrigation to preserve effects of earlier treatments.

4. 3 to 10 pounds per acre in a dry gypsum carrier applied dry over or into rain-fed (non irrigated) cropland for erosion control and other benefits. Some cultivation will help.

5. For low-volume applications especially over seed rows to prevent crusting and to aid seed emergence: 20 to 200 ppm may be used depending on volume of water used. The 200 ppm is only if a low volume of water is possible. One or two pounds per acre in a gypsum carrier may be applied dry over seed rows.

6. For dust control from surface of vineyards and orchards, 300 or more ppm is used for surface application.

7. From 20 to 200 ppm may be used in foliar sprays to increase their efficiency.

8. From 5 to 20 pounds per acre in ag gypsum can help reclaim sodic soils.

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J. Summary of "MP" (Micronized PAM) Solutions that can be Prepared by a Dealer or Distributor for Farm Use.

With - 100+150 "MP" (the - 150+270 size range may be used also but requires more care).

• For 1000 gallons and 1.0 percent weight/volume (w/v) "MP" in Calcium Nitrate: at least 750 pounds solution grade granular calcium nitrate dissolved in water with stirring add 83 pounds of "MP". If 100 pounds of "MP" are used, the "MP" concentration will be 1.2 percent.

• For 1000 gallons and 1.0 percent in ammonium sulfate: 700 pounds of ammonium sulfate are dissolved in close to 1000 gallons of water. With stirring, 83 pounds of - 100 +150 "MP" are added. The volume is made up to 1000 gallons. The w/v concentration is 1.0 percent but if 100 pounds "MP" are used, the concentration is 1.2 percent.

• For 1000 gallons with fluid fertilizers and 1.0 percent (w/v) "MP", 83 pounds of "MP" are added with stirring. The volume is made up to 1000 gallons. If 100 pounds "MP" are used, the concentration is 1.2 percent (w/v). PAM is not compatible with metallic ions such as Zn⁺ , Fe⁺⁺, Fe⁺⁺⁺ and Cu⁺⁺ . PAM is compatible with chelated forms of these metals.

• For 1000 gallons of 0.25 percent or slightly higher concentration in water without carrier nutrient salts, the "MP" can be directed into the tank in a water stream so that the "MP" constantly is dispersed in fresh water before both water and "MP" enter the tank. Twenty pounds (actually 21 pounds) per 1000 gallons make about 0.25 percent (w/v) "MP" . Twenty-five pounds will make 0.3 percent (w/v)

The above solutions are injected into irrigation systems with dilution to give application rates needed for field work like 1, 2, 10, 20 parts per million etc. according to previous instructions.

With -270 "MP"

• Although not a true solution, a 5 or 6 percent insoluble slurry of "MP" can be prepared in around 50 percent ammonium sulfate in solution (w/v). To make 500 gallons of near 5% "MP", one ton (2000 pounds) of ammonium sulfate is put in around 400 gallons of water with vigorous stirring, 200 pounds of -270 "MP" are added to give 4.8 percent (w/v) 250 pounds would give 6.0 percent w/v (5% w/w) and made to 500 gallons. At 6.0 percent, 500 gallons would deliver 10 parts per million in 110 acre-inches of irrigation. Less is sufficient. Users can pay for the ammonium sulfate. This procedure could make the preparation of stock solutions by dealers more practical than other procedures. Ten gallons equal five pounds of PAM.