Why Your Crops May Be Struggling: It Might Not Be What You Think

It’s mid-June, and you’re scouting fields to assess plant health, weed pressure and potential disease symptoms. You notice your crop isn’t looking as good as it should at this stage in development. Is it poor fertility? Too many cloudy days? Ineffective weed control? Those might be plausible reasons why your crop is suffering – or, it could be something you’ve never considered: your irrigation water. 

While everyone knows crops need water to thrive, most think that water is, well, just water. However, the more we learn about this fascinating resource, the more we understand its significant contribution to overall crop success. Let’s dive into how your water’s physical and molecular characteristics can help, or hinder, crop development.

How Water’s Structure and Quality Impact Crop Uptake

Moisture availability is one of the most yield-limiting factors in crop production; all plants require water for growth, development and reproduction. Many variables affect a plant’s ability to take up water, including soil structure, water-holding capacity, root health and soil moisture distribution. However, the quality and structure of irrigation water can also impact crop uptake. Let’s explore how.  

Organized water is more available to plant cells.

Water is made up of hydrogen and oxygen atoms that form covalent bonds. These covalent bonds contribute to water’s unique properties, including polarity, surface tension and solvency. However, a typical water molecule’s angular shape and its tendency to cluster with neighboring molecules make it large and somewhat difficult for plant cells to absorb. 

 

When irrigation water is organized in a more coherent arrangement, it’s more easily absorbed by plant roots and cells. That’s exactly the scientific foundation supporting UpTerra’s TerraFlow® technology. The TerraFlow device uses a vortexing action to organize irrigation water, making it more available for plant uptake. It easily installs into most existing irrigation systems to provide plants with more hydrating water.  

Saline water inhibits plant growth.

Irrigation water quality can also impact crop uptake. It’s been reported that nearly half of the world’s irrigated acres are affected by saline soils.(1) Irrigation water is often drawn from groundwater supplies that can contain high salt levels. Without appropriate flushing and soil drainage, these salts can accumulate in the root zone, causing osmotic or salt stresses and nutrient imbalances for the crop. So, even though water may be available in the root zone, the excess salt inhibits plant uptake, mimicking drought conditions. 

Salts may also accumulate on soil surfaces as irrigation water evaporates, creating top-soil crusting that reduces water infiltration.(2) This further complicates the challenge of crop management by limiting water to the roots and increasing the risk for runoff and evaporation. As a result, crop growth, yield and quality may decline as plants struggle to take up water and essential nutrients from the soil solution.

Independent research conducted with the MARI Agricultural Research Institute demonstrates the agronomic advantages of TerraFlow for saline soils. Saline soil treated with TerraFlow water showed over 20% reductions in key salinity measures, including electrical conductivity (EC), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) and total soluble salts (TSS), compared to the untreated control.(3) These soil quality improvements translated into crop health benefits, such as significant increases in root mass weight and volume and 25% higher leaf chlorophyll values in pistachios.(3)

Low-surface-tension water is more evenly distributed in the soil.

As mentioned, water inherently has a high surface tension. This quality enables water to form raindrops and allows some organisms to live on the water’s surface. When water’s surface tension is lowered, such as by adding heat or a detergent, it spreads more easily. Low-surface-tension water can be beneficial in agriculture because it moves more evenly across and into the soil. Therefore, irrigation water with a low surface tension is more consistently distributed throughout the soil profile. 

Using low-surface-tension water to irrigate can benefit soils where compaction or salt accumulation limit infiltration. Lower-surface-tension irrigation water also helps crops by reducing runoff and evaporation, making irrigation more efficient and improving nutrient uptake.

Why Traditional Irrigation Misses the Mark

Irrigation costs cut into farmer profits; that’s why maximizing efficiency is more important than ever. While traditional irrigation systems are getting tech upgrades to increase efficiency, a 2019 global study documents the average aggregate irrigation efficiency in the U.S. to be between 60 and 70%.(4) That means a lot of applied water is not reaching the crop. The graphic below illustrates how irrigation efficiency varies according to geography and irrigation method. Traditional sprinkler or gravity systems tend to be less efficient, whereas drip and subsurface methods result in less water loss to runoff and evaporation. 

Source: USDA Economic Research Service. 2017. (5)

 

Water availability has become a significant yield-limiting factor for growers, particularly those in the western states. In some situations, farmers are forced to take land out of production to conserve their water resources. Others may choose to change their cropping plans to include crops with lower water requirements. These tough choices can limit the profitability and long-term legacy of farms challenged by water availability issues. Traditional irrigation methods are reaching their efficiency limits, so farmers must adopt new production practices and innovations to keep more moisture in their soils.   

The Quiet Revolution in Water Tech

UpTerra is taking water tech to the next level by filling the gap in irrigation efficiency left by traditional systems. The premise behind UpTerra’s TerraFlow technology is simple: use the science behind surface tension and plant uptake to enhance water’s wetting properties. TerraFlow is an extension that installs seamlessly into existing irrigation systems without significant infrastructure costs or changes. It uses patent-pending vortexing and frequency transmission processes to organize and enhance irrigation water, improving moisture distribution in the soil. More consistent soil moisture has many crop benefits, including:

• Less moisture stress, especially during drought conditions
• Better root health
• More active soil microbes
• More effective nutrient uptake
• Higher ROI for fertility, biological and other chemical applications

While growers often see results within the first season of TerraFlow installation, the real magic comes with continued use over time. The benefits compound, with improvements in soil health, increased yield consistency and better crop resiliency to environmental stress. Growers who use TerraFlow have been able to reduce input costs while maintaining, and in many cases even increasing their yield. 

TerraFlow® on the Farm: Forage Case Study

Benny Froese is a crop and livestock farmer in Lovington, New Mexico. His entrepreneurial spirit drives the decisions he makes, with a farming approach that focuses on the bottom line and building a solid business that can weather market and environmental challenges.

Benny is deliberate about the practices and products he adopts. His ultimate goal is to maximize ROI while maintaining his land for the future. As someone who seeks innovation to advance his business, Benny was intrigued by UpTerra’s water-enhancing technology and what it could mean for his farm. 

As an irrigation farmer, Benny struggled to manage his soil moisture. Unpredictable environmental conditions and crop stress made it difficult to maximize his farm’s potential. Additionally, troublesome soil contributed to crop health challenges that killed Benny’s yield potential. He knew that managing soil moisture and building soil health were essential requirements for maintaining a profitable farming operation, so he decided to give TerraFlow a try.

After three seasons of TerraFlow use, Benny has seen significant year-over-year impacts on his farm. Despite tough growing conditions and agronomic challenges, he’s consistently achieved higher silage yields across crops and production seasons with TerraFlow. Forage quality has also improved, providing him with more digestible nutrients for his livestock, which has resulted in significantly reduced costs. 

These improvements are a result of better water use efficiency and healthier soils, including more optimal soil pH levels. With TerraFlow, Benny has been able to improve farm profitability through higher yields, better forage quality and reduced input costs. 

Small Fix, Big Change

If your crops are struggling, but it’s not one of the usual suspects, maybe it’s time to take a harder look at your irrigation water. Water quality and structure have a significant impact on soil moisture distribution and plant uptake potential. Making a simple and cost-effective tweak to your irrigation system with TerraFlow can deliver immediate crop health benefits this season. And, with continued use, you’ll get more productive soil to support your farm’s long-term legacy. Interested in more information? Check out more on-farm results, or reach out to our team. 

— — —

Key Takeaways

• Water isn’t just water. Beyond quantity, its quality and molecular structure directly influence plant uptake and overall crop success.

• Organized water is more plant-friendly. When water molecules are organized coherently, roots absorb it more easily—boosting hydration efficiency.

• Salinity mimics drought stress. Saline soils can reduce water uptake, cause topsoil crusting and limit nutrient absorption, even when water is present.

• Surface tension affects distribution. Low-surface-tension water spreads more evenly through the soil profile, improving infiltration and reducing runoff.

• Traditional irrigation promotes water loss. Average U.S. irrigation efficiency is only 60–70%, meaning a significant portion of applied water never reaches crops.

• Water scarcity forces tough choices. Many farmers must switch crops or idle land when irrigation water is scarce, which cuts into their profitability and long-term viability.

• TerraFlow enhances water performance. The technology uses vortexing and frequency transmission to enhance irrigation water, lowering surface tension and improving soil moisture distribution.

• Healthier soil means more productive crops. Consistent moisture supports stronger roots, more active microbes and better nutrient uptake. These benefits compound season after season.

• Farmers achieve measurable results with TerraFlow. Farmers like Benny Froese in New Mexico report improved yields, enhanced crop quality, and reduced input costs after several seasons of using TerraFlow.

— — —

References

1 Seid M and Genenew T. 2013. Evaluation of soil and water salinity for irrigation in North-eastern Ethiopia: Case study of Fursa small-scale irrigation in Awash River Basin. African Journal of Environmental Science.

2 Bhadauria S, Sengar M, Dheeraj M, et al. 2010. Sustainable land use planning through utilization of alkaline waste land by biotechnological intervention. American-Eurasian Journal of Agriculture and Environmental Science, 9 (3): 325-337.

3 MARI Agricultural Research Institute report on file. 

4 Wang H. 2019. Irrigation efficiency and water withdrawal in US agriculture. Official Journal of the World Water Council, Water Policy, 21 (4): 768–786.

5 USDA Economic Research Service. 2017. Understanding irrigated agriculture.