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A. Zeba is a patented soil amendment that
improves plant yield and plant quality across a wide
spectrum of agricultural, forestry, turf, ornamental
and home and garden applications through improved
water utilization.
A. Zeba particles store and release up to 400
times their weight in water, hydrating and
rehydrated with each irrigation or rain event.
Applied as a root dip or dry granule near roots,
Zeba helps keep plants hydrated all season long by
prolonging the benefits of water events.
A. Zeba improves seed germination rates, promotes
fast and uniform emergence, improves stand
establishment and ultimately improves yield and
quality. Zeba also helps plants avoid stress caused
by heat spikes and drought by optimizing a plant's
use of available water.
A. Zeba has been shown to increase yields and
quality in every plant variety tested, in a wide
range of soil types, and in a wide spectrum of
climatic conditions.
A. Zeba has proven beneficial for plant health in
sandy soils and clay soils. In sandy soils, Zeba
prevents water from sifting through the root zones,
holding water where it's needed. In clay soils, the
expanding and contracting action of Zeba particles
can increase aeration, boosting oxygen levels in the
soil and increasing water percolation.
A. Zeba dry granules can be applied with any
standard Gandy-type applicator or similar metering
device. Zeba root dip is applied as a slurry to
roots.
A. In general, we recommend a fresh application
of Zeba with any new planting, or yearly. This
ensures Zeba is close to seeds, which will help
accelerate germination and provide benefits
throughout a growing season.
A. Because Zeba is a natural starch-based
formulation it is safe for use on all crops,
including food crops. Zeba is non-toxic,
biodegradable and contains no synthetic additives.
A. Zeba can reduce water application requirements
over the course of a growing season through better
water utilization, but it doesn't change the amount
of water a plant needs.
Instead of water being dispersed into the soil or
evaporating, water is absorbed by Zeba and held for
the plant to use as needed.
A. No. Zeba triggers no chemical reaction. Zeba
merely absorbs moisture and any water-soluble
nutrients present and remains suspended in the plant
root zone.
A. As Zeba granules expand and contract to a
volume size determined by water availability, they
separate soil particles, providing roots oxygen and
potentially decreasing the probability of plants
developing root rot.
A. As Zeba breaks down it provides a food source
for soil microbes. This results in improved soil
quality and, over time, creates a rich soil
environment that helps plants flourish. |
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A. Zeba is not organic-certified. However, it is
formulated from natural cornstarch. During the
manufacturing process, the molecular structure of
the cornstarch is tweaked to give Zeba its ability
to store and release water. This process limits
qualification for organic certification. However,
all trace elements of the process are removed and
the final Zeba granules are as "natural" as the
cornstarch in its original state.
A. Zeba stays active 12 months to several years,
depending on the microorganisms present in a
particular soil. We recommend a new application with
each planting to ensure optimum efficacy. Over time,
Zeba will settle in soil and deepen the active zone.
A. Since replanting disturbs soil in the seedbed,
Zeba should be applied each time a crop is
replanted. This keeps Zeba close to seeds.
A. Yes. By combining Zeba and nutrients, you
provide plants an optimum opportunity to deliver
premium yields and quality.
A. Yes. When Zeba is applied as a liquid slurry
in transplant water, plants are shown to have a
better survival rate, greater root and biomass
development and improved yields and quality.
A. Yes. By better utilizing available water, Zeba
helps remove stress associated with heat spikes.
This helps create healthy, uniform plant development
across fields.
A. During most growing seasons, crops treated
with Zeba will show a definitive advantage over
untreated crops in seedling emergence, plant
development and overall yields and quality. However,
when environmental conditions are ideal for plant
development, Zeba treated crops may not be markedly
different than untreated crops.
A. Zeba has several advantages over
petroleum-based superabsorbents, which are known in
the marketplace as PAMs. The primary advantage is
that Zeba particles readily relinquish stored water
to plants when plants need it. PAMs, on the other
hand, tend to hold water tightly and often will
compete with plants for water. No other absorbent
product is able to release water as effectively as
Zeba.
Also, Zeba is made from naturally produced,
biodegradable cornstarch and can improve soil as it
breaks down. PAMs are made from synthetic polymers
that provide no soil benefits in their natural form.
A. We developed Zeba to hold 400 times its weight
in water, although we can produce a granule that
holds as much as 5,000 times its weight. Experience
has shown that at the current design, we have
achieved the optimum balance that allows Zeba
particles to absorb and release water as plants need
it. |
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A. Zeba is new and totally different from other
water-preservation products, including any of the
synthetic polyacrylate and polyacrylamide
formulations (e.g., PAMs). You've likely heard of or
had experience with the many synthetic polymers sold
on the market, which are supersabsorbents made with
petroleum-type formulations, the active ingredient
used in disposable diapers. These synthetic polymers
hold water tightly, which explains why these
formulations are less effective in growing plants.
The most important factor is not absorbency, but the
ability of any superabsorbent to release water. No
other absorbent product is able to release water as
well as Zeba. |
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A. We developed Zeba to hold 400 times its weight
in water, although we can produce a granule that
holds as much as 5,000 times its weight. However,
experience has shown we have achieved the optimum
balance that benefits plants with a product that not
only achieves optimal absorbency but also the
ability to release moisture as needed. |
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A. Yes! Zeba is a natural starch-based
formulation. It is non-toxic, biodegradable,
pH-neutral and safe for any plant. Synthetic
polymers, on the other hand, typically contain
significant amounts of sodium, petroleum and other
fillers, which can be detrimental to food crops.
Because it is starch-based, Zeba particles are an
attractive food source for soil microorganisms. Over
time, the microbes consume the Zeba, creating a
richer soil environment. |
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A. No, Zeba is not organic-certified. However, it
is formulated from natural cornstarch. During
manufacturing, the molecular structure of the
cornstarch is tweaked in order to give Zeba its
great ability to store and release water. This
process limits qualification for organic
certification. However, all trace elements of the
process are removed, and the final Zeba granules are
as 'natural' as the cornstarch in its original
state. |
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A. In general, we recommend a fresh application
of Zeba with each new planting. This ensures that
Zeba is in close proximity to the seeds (for
improved emergence) and roots. For more specific
applications subject to plant type, see the Zeba
User Guide.
A. Since replanting disturbs soil in the seedbed,
Zeba should be applied each time a crop is replanted
to keep Zeba close to the seeds. |
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A. Yes. By combining Zeba and nutrients, your
plants have the best advantage—both food and water.
Consult the Zeba Application Guide for more
information.
A. Zeba remains effective 12 months to several
years, depending on the microorganisms present in
the soil, which will eventually cause
biodegradation. We recommend a new application with
each new planting as a way to ensure optimum
efficacy. Over time, each Zeba application will
settle, further deepening the active zone. |
Packaged
as a fine powder, it can be mixed with water to form a slurry, similar
in appearance to pancake batter.
