Page 21 - Landscape SA 96

IRRIGATION FEATURE

Loubser noticed an increase in yield
The Tree Hog during the 2018/2019/2020 season. “This
is very promising,” he states.

Patents
Loubser has patented the Tree Hog in
South Africa and neighbouring countries,
and is currently working on extending this
to Europe and Australia. This will enable
him to produce and distribute the product
in these areas commercially. It is patented
in four different classes, namely the design,
name, logo and intellectual property.

All patented work is done by Edward
Nathan Sonnenburg (ENS Attorneys) in
Cape Town. Louis Loubser and his Tree
Hog invention, a simple way of conserving
water and improving irrigation efficiency
for tree growth LSA

Information and photos
supplied by Louis Loubser
fine roots in the profile of the Tree Hog; Irrigation of trees on the Tree Hog side (0725499925), with extracts
and showed increased root development, from www.bluenorth.co.za,
• the evapotranspiration of the Tree Hog whereas in the other area they were more www.businessinsider.co.za and
treatment was noticeably lower (18%) elongated and one-sided because of the www.engineeringnews.co.za.
during 2018/2019. wind factor. All are acknowledged.
The orchard of 1.5 ha is divided into two,
each part with its own water meter, tap
and an Irrigator system. One orchard is
fitted with Tree Hogs and the other is not.

The Tree Hog side showed that there
were less weeds during the season, and
that these could be controlled by spot
spraying. The other side showed more
weeds that would require manual labour
to be eradicated, as well as a follow up
with chemical weeds sprays.

On windy days, the Tree Hogs supplied
the required amount of water with no
effects from wind, whereas the other side
was affected and eventually needed more
water to reach the root zones. Evaporation
was far less on the Tree Hog side (almost
nothing) whereas it was greater on the
other side because of wind and higher soil
temperatures during the day.

Stress tests conducted on leaves also
showed that the Tree Hog side was less
stressed than the other side. The stomata
cells were open for longer periods during
the day which increased photosynthesis,
and the results showed that there was
more tree growth on the Tree Hog side.

Loubser also decreased the fertiliser
application by 30%, with no negative
effects on the Tree Hog side; he kept to the
correct requirement on the other side.

Landscape SA • Issue 96 2020 19