As drought conditions intensify across the West, Diamond K Gypsum has introduced a new suite of agricultural water saving products and an online tool that improve irrigation water use efficiency, soil performance and crop resilience in drought conditions.

“Western crop consultants and growers know there is no silver bullet when it comes to water shortages,” says Tom Tankersley, Diamond K Gypsum director of sales. “Instead, integrated programs that address both water and soil chemistry, physics and soil biology offer the best solutions. Growers who focus on improving infiltration, retention and root efficiency are in a much better position to protect yield when irrigation water is restricted.”

Aqua-Drive Elite is designed to improve water infiltration and soil moisture distribution by reducing surface tension of the water droplet and the soil. It allows irrigation water and precipitation to penetrate deeper into the root zone rather than being lost to runoff or evaporation.

Diamond K Bio Algae is a concentrated soil amendment derived from beneficial algae compounds that support root growth, microbial activity in the soil and carbon cycling.

Aqua-Drive Elite Bio combines the water management benefits of Aqua-Drive Elite with soil advantages of Diamond K Bio Algae in a single application. In recent water deficit turf research completed at University California, Bermuda grass treated with Aqua-Drive Elite Bio showed no visible negative impacts despite a 40% reduction in irrigation water during the five-month test.

The new online tool, called The Water Knowledge Hub, includes links to university research about combating drought with water testing and water quality improvements.