Loveland Products rolls out irrigation additive aimed at boosting soil water retention

Loveland Products has introduced a new water use efficiency product designed to help farmers improve soil moisture management under center pivot irrigation systems, as water scarcity intensifies across major U.S. farming regions.

The product, branded AQUA FORCE, is positioned by the company as an alternative to conventional soil surfactants and wetting agents. According to Loveland Products, AQUA FORCE is formulated to help irrigation water move more uniformly through the soil profile, remain longer in the root zone, and reduce compaction, with the goal of improving crop water availability and yield potential.

The launch comes as growers, particularly in the U.S. High Plains, confront declining groundwater supplies. The Ogallala Aquifer, a critical source of irrigation water for corn, wheat, and other crops, has been steadily depleted in parts of the region.

“Farmers are under more pressure than ever to do more with less water,” said Drew Butler, adjuvants portfolio manager at Loveland Products, citing estimates that parts of the Ogallala Aquifer can lose one to two feet of water annually.

Field trials conducted by the Irrigation Research Foundation in Yuma, Colorado, in 2024 showed an average corn yield increase of nine bushels per acre when AQUA FORCE was applied through center pivot systems, the company said. Results varied by production zone and site conditions. Separate trials in Oklahoma indicated higher soil moisture levels in the top six inches of soil throughout the growing season, suggesting reduced losses from evaporation or runoff.

Loveland Products said the product is intended to help growers improve irrigation efficiency without major system changes, potentially reducing the need for additional water applications.