Wetting Agent | Natural Emulsifier + Surfactant

All credit for this recipe goes to JADAM. If it was not for them, these ultra-low-cost farming practices would not be available and so widespread.

Please check out their books Jadam Organic Farming – The way to Ultra-Low-Cost agriculture and Jadam 100 Herbs – For Making Jadam Natural Pesticides.

Why Use Wetting Agent?

Have you ever watered your crops only to notice that the water does not seem to absorb readily into your soil? Or have you noticed that water tends to pool or puddle in some parts of your garden while other areas remain dry? These are common issues associated with the hydrophobic – or “water-repelling” – aspects of many soils. It may seem counterintuitive to think of soil repelling water, but if you’ve noticed any of the above issues, this is likely to be contributing to the cause.

Thankfully, this is one garden problem that has a very simple solution!  “Wetting Agents” are natural surfactants, which are substances that lower the surface tension of water molecules, allowing them to spread more evenly and to be absorbed more efficiently. Our Wetting Agent also acts as an emulsifier, helping those same water molecules to carry and distribute your fertilizers and other soil additives more effectively. Our Wetting Agent is specifically designed to be used as a foliar spray added to your weekly IPM (Integrated Pest Management) or foliar fertilizer routine.

Benefits of Using Wetting Agent

Adding Wetting Agent Natural Emulsifier + Surfactant to a foliar IPM or fertilizer routine has a number of benefits for your soil, including:

• Increased soil absorption rate
• Reduction of soil’s hydrophobic tendencies
• Reduced likelihood of liquid pooling or channeling unevenly through your garden beds
• Improved air-to-water ratio within your soil, ensuring adequate oxygenation for beneficial microbial development

Improving your soil’s absorption rate ensures the entirety of your soil is optimally nourished for root development. This results in a number of benefits to plant development, including:

Plants are able to access and utilize vital nutrients most effectively, further strengthening their roots.
Strong plants are happy plants! Plants with robust root development are less stressed…

And finally, an overall reduction in plants’ stress is associated with these additional benefits to crop production:

• Increased crop quantity
• Improved crop quality
• Increased resiliency to the elements, and
• Increased protection from detrimental bacteria and invasive organisms!

Application Rate: Dilute 1 to 4 ounces per gallon of water. Mix well. Foliar spray on plants or add to your foliar fertilizer program. *Must be foliar sprayed

Ingredients: Filtered water, canola oil, potassium hydroxide

How to Make JWA At Home:

Items Needed:

• Heat-Resistant Container with Air-Tight Lid
• Kitchen Scale
• Immersion Blender or Drill With Mixing Attachment
• Bowls for Weighing Out Inputs
• Potassium Hydroxide (KOH)
• Canola Oil
• Filtered Water

Instructions:

This recipe will make approximately 3.5 gallons of Wetting Agent.

1. Measure out 400 grams of potassium hydroxide in a bowl and measure out 312.5 grams of filtered water.
2. Pour the water into a heat-resistant-container. Then, measure out the potassium hydroxide and pour it into the water and immediately cover with a lid, as this is a caustic chemical reaction taking place. Swirl the container around to fully dissolve the potassium hydroxide.
3. Measure out 76 fl. oz. of canola oil in a bowl. Pour the canola oil into the heat-resistant container with the potassium hydroxide solution.
4. Using the blending tool, mix the solution until a thin mayonnaise consistency is formed.
5. Place the lid on the container and allow it to sit for 3 days or until it becomes hard like butter. If it does not harden up, re-mix the solution with the blending tool.
6. Add 84.5 fl. oz. of filtered water to the container and mix gently with the blending tool. Make sure all clumps are off the bottom and side of the container.
7. Add an additional 253.6 fl. oz. of filtered water to the container. Stir manually.
8. Place lid on the container and allow it to melt slowly for 24 hours and it will be complete. Store in a tightly sealed container. It has no expiration date.