Carbonic Acid for Agriculture

Reduce bicarbonates, improve nutrient availability, and strengthen soil biology. All as a fully managed service.

Most Irrigation Water in the American West Is Too Alkaline

Iron, manganese, zinc, and phosphorus are already in your soil. High-pH irrigation water locks them out at the root zone during the exact window when crops are actively feeding. Delivering water at pH 6.5–6.6 unlocks what is already there, without adding more inputs.

Switching from sulfuric acid to carbonic acid removes sulfate accumulation from the equation entirely. Side-by-side soil tests on a farm using both show CO₂ respiration up 69% and microbial diversity up 12.34% on carbonic acid blocks while the sulfuric acid blocks declined. The soil biology that cycles nutrients and builds long-term fertility responds directly to the carbon carbonic acid delivers and sulfuric acid cannot. ECO2MIX handles installation, CO₂ supply, monitoring, and maintenance under a fixed-price service contract. No capital investment, no acid to store, no equipment to purchase. Over 100 systems have been running on farms across California and Florida since 2017.

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ECO2MIX system installed at a pump station
~50%
Bicarbonate reduction at target pH
1,000+
acres a single pump station system can treat
CCOF
Certified organic approved
+69%
CO₂ respiration vs. sulfuric acid (same farm)
Silas Rossow, President, California Ag Solutions

“What we're doing with carbonic acid makes a huge shift in improving the microbial health, to where we can cycle nutrition more effectively into the tree. And surprisingly, even though we sell fertilizers, we're able to see a reduction in inputs that we're having to sell the grower because we're improving the soil.”

Silas Rossow
Silas Rossow President, California Ag Solutions, Madera, CA
  • Microbial health improvement documented across multiple farms
  • Reduced fertilizer inputs while maintaining yields
  • Net profit increase per acre for growers he advises

Why Growers Choose ECO2MIX

Nutrient Availability

Delivering water at pH 6.5–6.6 keeps iron, manganese, zinc, and phosphorus plant-available at the root zone, unlocking the nutrients already in your soil without adding more inputs.

Soil Biology

As carbonic acid dissipates after irrigation, CO₂ feeds soil microbes. Side-by-side data shows CO₂ respiration up 69% and microbial diversity up 12.34% compared to sulfuric acid blocks on the same farm.

Emitter and Line Protection

Treating water before the field prevents calcium carbonate from precipitating inside drip tape, filters, and emitters, keeping distribution uniform and reducing maintenance frequency.

No Chemical Handling

No acid to store, handle, or dispose of. ECO2MIX manages the system remotely. Your team does not touch any chemical inputs between service visits.

Also included
  • CCOF-approved for certified organic operations. Compare to sulfur burners.
  • Drip tape and emitter scale stopped before it reaches the field
  • Fixed service contract: ECO2MIX handles installation, CO₂, monitoring, and maintenance

How It Works

  1. 01

    CO2 injection at the pump station

    CO₂ from a dedicated supply tank is injected into the water line immediately after your pump, before water enters the field.

  2. 02

    Pressurized dissolution

    Inside the ECO2MIX reactor, CO₂ fully dissolves into the water under pressure, forming carbonic acid throughout the water stream.

  3. 03

    Real-time water pH control

    A probe downstream reads water pH continuously. The automated controller adjusts CO₂ dose to maintain your target pH, regardless of flow rate or source variation.

  4. 04

    Remote monitoring and service

    ECO2MIX monitors system performance remotely. A technician visits every 6–8 weeks to calibrate the pH probe and replenish CO₂. No operator action required between visits.

Research & Field Observations

Case studies, agronomist observations, and technical explainers from California and beyond.

Carbonated Irrigation in a Tempranillo Vineyard: What the Research Shows

Carbonated Irrigation in a Tempranillo Vineyard: What the Research Shows

October 8, 2025  ·  agriculturegraperesearch

ECO2MIX summarizes a peer-reviewed study on carbonated irrigation water in a Tempranillo grapevine vineyard — covering nutrient absorption, yield improvements, and what it means for inline carbonic acid pH control.

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Comparing Common Methods of Irrigation Water pH Control

Comparing Common Methods of Irrigation Water pH Control

April 24, 2025  ·  agriculturewater-ph-controlsulfuric-acid

Choosing Your Approach: Managing pH in Agricultural Irrigation Water

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Sustainable Water pH Treatment for Almonds

Sustainable Water pH Treatment for Almonds

April 17, 2025  ·  agriculturealmondwater-ph-control

Keeping the almond industry alive and healthy in California. Due to rising costs, uncertain demand, and rising input costs for almonds, growers across California are looking for ways to cut costs and increase production.

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See All Agriculture Articles →

Common Questions

How does carbonic acid improve nutrient uptake?
High-pH irrigation water raises soil pH at the wetting front over time, locking out iron, manganese, zinc, and phosphorus in forms the plant cannot absorb. Delivering water at pH 6.5–6.6 keeps the root zone chemistry in the optimal range for nutrient availability during every irrigation cycle. Field data from side-by-side comparisons shows CO₂ respiration up 69% and microbial diversity up 12.34% compared to sulfuric acid blocks on the same farm.
Will carbonic acid affect my drip tape, emitters, or filters?
No, it protects them. Treating water before it enters the field prevents calcium carbonate from precipitating inside drip tape, emitters, and filters. Growers who switch from untreated high-pH water typically see cleaner lines and more consistent distribution uniformity over time. Carbonic acid has no corrosive effect on HDPE drip tape, plastic fittings, or standard metallic components.
Is carbonic acid approved for certified organic operations?
Yes. ECO2MIX carbonic acid is CCOF-approved and has been approved by the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) for the USDA National List of Allowed Substances. Organic growers across California's Central Coast and San Joaquin Valley use it alongside their certifier programs without interruption.
How does the service model work?
ECO2MIX is a fully managed service. There is no equipment to purchase. ECO2MIX installs the system, supplies CO₂, monitors performance remotely, and handles all maintenance and probe calibration on a fixed per-acre annual contract. You see the pH going to your field. ECO2MIX handles everything else.
How much acreage can one ECO2MIX unit treat?
A single ECO2MIX unit usually treats 40 or more acres from one pump station, and the equipment can treat over 1,000 acres from one pump station at flow rates over 5,000 GPM. For operations with multiple pump stations, each station gets its own unit, and they can all be monitored and managed centrally.
Is there ongoing research on carbonic acid for agricultural soil health?
Yes. A three-year soil health study comparing carbonic acid and sulfuric acid irrigation treatment is underway at six pistachio farms in California's Central Valley. The study quantifies long-term soil carbon storage, microbial health, and nutrient cycling. It began in 2026 and is ongoing. Led by Dr. Bansal at Fresno State, with support from American Pistachio Growers, F3i, the California Energy Commission, and other partners. ECO2MIX will publish findings as they become available.
How soon will I see results after switching to carbonic acid?
The pH at the wetting front is corrected on the first irrigation. Nutrient response and fertilizer efficiency usually show within weeks to a few months, and soil biology improvements are measurable by the end of the first season. Because carbonic acid is transient, a lab water test taken hours after irrigation will not show it, which is expected. The reactor display and a cup test at the emitter confirm the pH reaching the field.
ECO2MIX Agriculture One-Pager

ECO2MIX Agriculture One-Pager

One-page summary of the ECO2MIX carbonic acid system for agriculture: benefits, how it works, and contact info.

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Get a Proposal for Your Operation

Tell us your water source, acreage, and target pH. We'll size the system and send a proposal within a few days.

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