 Soil Excel is a soil conditioner specially designed and

developed for water and nutrient retention and release in

substrates and soil.
 Upon contact with water Soil Excel swells quickly, creating a
hydrogel by absorbing and retaining large quantity of plant
available water.
 Fertilizer leaching can be reduced
 During the soil drying process both water and water soluble
nutrients are released to the plant in a uniform manner.
 Soil Excel is a highly cross-linked water insoluble superabsorbent
anionic polymer that is partially neutralized with potassium.
 It is a homo-polymer based on acrylic acid potassium. It does not
contain any acrylamide.
 Is is available as white,dry and solid granulate with different
particle sizes and excellent water absorption power.
 After swelling to a hydrogel Soil Excel acts as a reservoir of
water that is available to plants on demand.
 The higher water availability helps to avoid water stress
during longer period of drought.
 During the water release phase of the hydrogel, free pore
volume will be created within the soil, offering additional
space, for root growth air and water infiltration and storage.
 Soil excel strongly resists soil pressure at high soil depth
without losing its swelling capacity.
 BENEFIT
•Reduce plant stress during transplanting
•Reduce transplant shock due to dehydration
•Superior moisture-retention capacity over peat
and other materials.
•Improved root growth
•Reduce plant stress between irrigation cycles
with consistent moisture release
•Acts as a water buffer in all types of potting
mixes.
•Enhanced root development
•Greater plant biomass
•Potential for water-soluble nutrients
held in root zone for longer period, less
leaching
•Inputs made more efficient
•Less water, fewer irrigation cycles, less
labor in nursery
•Faster emergence
•Higher quality, more consistent stands
 Polyarcylamide Polyarcylate( Soil Excel)

300 - 400 times its weight Water holding capacity 300 - 500 times its weight

yes Acrylamide content no

no, due to acrylamide content environment friendly yes

no Biodegradable no
Hard Gel particle Soft

yes Degradable yes

may release acrylamide, lethal Potential risk no

neurotoxin. Potential carcinogen.

Tightly bind water, poor release Water release capasity good release

up to 12 years(due to poor degradation) Long-lasting 5-7 years

 Increases the water holding capacity of
soils and potting mixes

Provides a continuously available water reservoir, just where the plant needs it - in the root zone. Due
to the improved moisture supply to the plants the yield potential of soils and potting mixes is ensured.

Water holding capacity of sandy soils

at field capacity

+ 60%
50 Through the addition of Soil Excel, the properties
of a sandy soil, as regards water retention capacity
Water content

40
and water release potential, have changed to those
30
(%)

of a silt loam soil.

20
10
0
0 g/l 2 g/l 3 g/l
Application rates
 Improves rewetting properties of soils
and potting mixes
A particular feature of Soil Excel is the very quick rewetting ability, even after completely drying
out. The rapid rewetting of soils and potting mixes after periods of droughts ensures and
accelerates the continuous growth of the plants.

Absorption capacity of Soil Excel after

numerous wet / dry cycles in dist. water
150

After 50 cycles the

125 absorption is still 80%.
---> Absorption (g/g)

100 Soil Excel retains the ability of

repeated water absorption and release
75 over a period of several years.

50

25

1. 10. 20. 30. 40. 50.

Number of wet / dry cycles
 The plant roots grow directly through
the gel particles
Water and nutrient elements are taken up directly by the fine root hairs growing into the gel or they
are slowly released to the surrounding soil by osmotic processes. The uniform moisture supply leads
to improved plant growth. Due to a fast and intensive rootgrowth the survival of newly planted
plants is significantly increased.

Soil Excel is not able to

withdraw water from the
plants, and does not create a
competition between the plant
and Soil Excel with regard to
available moisture.

Pinus halepensis
 Stores water which is easily
available for plants
Soil Excel is fully integrated in the (natural system) of water withdrawal by plants.
By applying the product, water and dissolved plant nutrients are stored in the area of the macropores
against gravity. Water which normally drains away is now easily available for plants. ZEBA supports the
capillary flow of water into the root zone by releasing water to the surrounding soil due to the moisture
gradient.

Increase in the water holding capacity

by Soil Excel
 non-available plant water  plant available water  air
After a heavy rain or after full irrigation
micropores in the soil are filled completely with
Sandy soil with water, which is easily available for plants. The
3 g/l Soil Excel
amount of water stored in the micropores of the
soil is called field capacity. At field capacity the
Total pore volume macropores of the soil are drained by gravity.
Untreated The excess water is drained through the soil
sandy soil profile.
Soil Excel minimizes the amount of drainage

-20% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Vol.%
 Soil Excel prolonges the time until plants
reach the permanent wilting point
After 40 days without irrigation the sandy soil contains 1 liter of water whereas in the soil
treated with Soil Excel 1 liter of water was measured after 80 days. The soil moisture potential
is kept for a longer period of time at the highest level resulting in less drought stress for the
plants. Irrigation frequency can be reduced by 50%.

Soil Excel keeps soil wet

6
Water content [Liter]

1 Sandy soil with 3 g/l Soil Excel

Untreated sandy soil
0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140

Days after last irrigation

 Longer survival time of plants under
water stress conditions
Trial design
Soil Sandy soil - 30 lt. Pots
Plant Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis)
Irrigation standard irrigation for 4 weeks - subsequently no further irrigation
Climate Greenhouse 30°C
with Soil Excel
Survival time of plants after last irrigation
 Plants are protected longer against
Control 49 ± 4 days irreversible damages due to drought.
4 g/l Soil Excel 82 ± 5 days
 Plants show a considerably slower
decrease in water potential.
 Acts in the soil as ion exchanger
Soil Excel is able to take up limited amounts of plant nutrients by exchange of its own cations (potassium)
against other nutrient cations (calcium and magnesium). These cations are released to the soil according
to osmotical processes. Thus, an equilibrium between the concentration of ions inside the polymer
network and in the soil is obtained by ion exchange. The supply of nutrients to plants is more uniform.
Leaching of nutrients can be avoided.

NH4+

K+ Ca2+

HO K+
C O-
Ca2+ O C Na+
O NH2 O
C C
O+
H2N K O
C OH
Fe3+
H2N C O O- Fe3+
O O C
C
K+ NH2
O- O NH
K+ C O C C 2
-
O O C O NH4+
OH
O
Mg2+ O NH2 +
K C
C C O- C NH2
H2N O O
Mg2+

Na+ K+
 Increases the efficiency of fertilizers
Trial design
Crop Maize (Zea mays)
Soil Sandy soil (3% clay content) - 6 lt. Pots
Irrigation Saturation to 60% of max. water holding capacity when the water
content of the pot was fallen under 20% of the water capacity
Fertilization 240 kg N/ha (ammonium nitrate)
Greenhouse 25° C day temperature / 15° C night temperature
Trial period 70 days (June and July)

Soil Excel
Crop Yield [%]

 increases crop yield

 improves the efficiency of nitrate:

higher production of biomass with the
same amount of nitrate

Control 3 g/l Soil Excel

Crop Yield of Maize

Page | 17
Improves root growth due to uniform moisture supply

Without Soil 3g of Soil Excel

Excel
per liter of soil

Roots of maize plants with Soil Excel particles

 Environmentally safe
In-depth ecotoxicological testing was performed in laboratories certified according to the rules of Good
Laboratory Practice (GLP). No evidence for adverse effects to animals, plants, soil or ground water was
obtained.

Checks of the compostability and

biological decomposition of chemicals.
Improves establishment of bare root
transplants thru the root protection
 As a bare-root transplant dip, Soil Excel retains water in
close proximity to the roots. Gel particles cover the roots
supplying enough moisture to prevent dehydration of the
exposed roots during transportation and storage.

 Plant survival and growth are improved due to the faster

development of fine root hairs after planting.

 Root dipping is an inexpensive but effective operation:

100 liters dipping solution or 1 kg of Soil Excel is enough
for 2000 nursery plants

Application

100 g of Soil Excel is stirred into 10 - 20 liters water. Make sure the polymer is
slowly poured into the water and that the water is moving. Let the solution
stand for at least 20 minutes. Adjust the slurry to the thickness that best adheres
to the roots. Dip or spray roots in the gel either singly or in bunches. Plant into
the soil in the usual way.
Extends the market life of
container plants

Soil Excel

 increases water-holding capacity

 improves aeration and drainage
 enhances top growth and flowering
 extends shelf-life of container grown plants

Most bedding plants are grown in containers that

make them very susceptible to water stress. The
problem is compounded by retail marketplace
conditions where watering frequency is often a
function of managerial convenience rather than plant
demand. Avoidance of water stress and protection
against possible plant injury is of significant value to
growers and retailers.
◦ Good for APM or supply palm Reduce plant stress during
transplanting
◦ Make the transplanting program available all around the year.
Improve the palm tolerance toward he dry season.
◦ Good for the soil series which are low moisture retention due to it
superior moisture-retention capacity
◦ Goods water buffer will improved the root development with
induce more feeder roots.
◦ Reduce plant stress between irrigation cycles (uneven rainfall
distribution) with consistent moisture release
 Dilute1 kg of Soil Excel in 200 lit water

10 mins
 Main nursery - OP
◦ Direct apply – 1g / polybag
◦ Pre Mix - 100ml of Soil Excel solution / polybag
 Field Planting – OP
◦ Direct apply – 5.0 – 7.5g of Soil Excel product / planting hole
◦ Pre Mix - 1-1.5 litres of Soil Excel solution / planting
hole
 Field Planting - Rubber
◦ Direct apply – 2.0 – 3.0g of Soil Excel product / planting hole
◦ Pre Mix - 400 -600 ml of Soil Excel solution / planting
hole
 Product in the planting hole

SOIL EXCEL SOIL EXCEL stick on

surrounding the root ball the roots
DRY SPELL IN EARLY YEAR 2010
Palm scorched during dry season
Burnt frond seriuosly
 Palm without apply Soil Excel
Palm with apply Soil Excel Lower Frond Dry Out
 2 Weeks After Transplant
Without SOIL
EXCEL

Water Stress Symptom

2 Months After Transplant
Without SOIL
EXCEL

Lower frond dry up

after water stress
 5 Months After Transplant

No water stress symptom

Lateritic Soil (12 mths old palm)