Field Tests & Research

The Container Tender™ has been rigorously lab and field tested to bring you the best product scientifically available. We're committed to continuing that research to help you provide the optimum growing conditions for your container-grown plants.

Summer 2005 Nationwide Field Tests
For the third year in a row, an extensive set of field tests -- testing water and nutrient use -- were completed the Summer of 2005. The following universities participated:

Dr. Dan Struve -- Coordinator; Horticulture and Crop Science, The Ohio State University
James Altland, Phd -- Oregon State University, North Willamette Reseach and Ext. Center
Bonnie Lee Appleton -- Virginia Tech
Michael Arnold, Phd -- Texas A&M University
Richard Beeson, Phd -- University of Florida, Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences, Mid-Florida Research & Education Center
Janet Cole -- Oklahoma State University, College of Agriculture, Department of Horticulture & Land Architecture

Summary
Similar plant growth can be achieved with much less water than typically used by nursery growers. However, it must be noted that these results are based upon the slow delivery rate and even water distribution provided by the Container Tender products. Therefore, extreme care must be exercised when attempting to simply reduce the water delivered by high flow rate spray stakes.

Click here for an early version of the results. A complete white paper will soon be available.

Summer 2004 Nationwide Field Tests
An extensive set of field tests, coordinated by Dr. Dan Struve of Ohio State University, were completed the Summer of 2004. The following universities participated:

Scott Clark, Riverhead Station, Long Island, Cornell University
Janet Cole, Oklahoma State University
Dr. Dan Struve, Ohio State University of Agriculture and Crop Science
James Altland, Oregon State University
Bonnie Lee Appleton, Virginia Tech

Summary
Based upon four months of testing over one growing season, the irrigation rate required for trees grown in 15 gallon containers was found to be less than 0.034 liters per hour per mm of caliper. These results show that regardless of temperature, environmental conditions, and location, trees do not need nearly the amount of water as has historically been used in nurseries.

Click here for the results.

2003 OSU Water Use and Growth Final Report
Below is the summary of the final report for the 2003 Growing Season Riverbirch and Pin Oak Water Use and Growth study submitted by Dr. Daniel K. Struve of the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science at Ohio State University. To download the PDF version of the complete report, click this link>>>>> 2003 OSU Final Report

Summary
Equivalent sized pin oak and Heritage riverbirch seedlings were grown with Container Tenders™ as with a popular and well respected competitive irrigation device, although those irrigated by the Container Tenders™ received 88% less irrigation water volume and 88% less fertilizer. Container Tenders™ proved to be a durable and reliable irrigation system capable of delivering very low irrigation rates. Additionally, they acted as an effective weed control mulch. If operated at suggested PSI, there were no embolisms. The Container Tenders™ did not clog during the growing season and were not brittle at the end of the growing season. They remained in place during windy conditions.

The Center for Irrigation Technology Plugging Tests
The independent testing facility at The Center for Irrigation Technology in Fresno, California has confirmed that the Container Tender™ product is not susceptible to plugging from inorganic particulates (sands). This was based upon units successfully passing their standardized laboratory test.(1) In fact, the Container Tender™ passed their test when subjected to a very coarse 60 grit material under low flow conditions. (2)

In parallel, Container Tender™ products did not show any plugging problems in typical nursery environments when used in less stringently controlled tests done on city water in Ohio and pumped well water in central Florida.(3) Continued testing is being done around the world to prove that the product is tolerant to your water conditions.

(1) The CIT laboratory test simulates a typical field installation with sand of various sizes pumped through laterals and emitters. It is run under very tightly controlled conditions.*
(2) As compared to the Container Tender™ withstanding 60 grit material, some competitors’ emitters have failed this same test when very fine 220 grit was used, even at much higher flow rates.*
*Please note that, although this laboratory test represents the industry standard, it cannot take into account all possible field conditions. Therefore, we still specify that Container Tenders™ be used with 140 to 200 mesh filtration typically found in the field.
If you are confused by what different grit sizes are, just think about how sandpaper from your local hardware store is rated....a higher grit number means finer particles. For example, 100% of 60 grit material passes through a 425 micron filter (40 mesh) while 220 grit material passes through a 106 micron filter (140 mesh).
(3) In one application in Florida the fine sugar sand was plugging competitor’s 7.7 GPH spray jets while the Container Tender™ continued to function.