06/07/07 Polymer retains moisture in spud fields

A Beaverton, Oregon based company says it has something that could be helpful Idaho potato growers. OLSON "Zeba is a starch based super absorbent polymer that absorbs 400 times its weight in water and can release 90 to 95 percent of it back to the plant. And we manufacture it out of corn starch." Absorbent Technologies vice president for sales Gary Olson says Zeba could be applied in furrow with the potato seed piece at planting. OLSON "And as you irrigate Zeba will absorb moisture, hold it when the plant needs it, so that between irrigations cycles you reduce plant stress." However, commercial growers using Zeba last year really didn't cut back on their water use. OLSON "If it takes three to three and a half days for your center pivot to circle around and you have real hot weather that plant can use a lot of water and Zeba especially in real sandy soils will help hold that water in place." Zeba is also being used with tomato, pepper, turf, tree fruit and vine crops. Olson says a Hermiston, Oregon spud farmer using Zeba had a 3.7 percent rate of return on seven irrigation circles. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott