FACT SHEET - TerraCottem Universal

Universal

Leading soil conditioning technology

Specification Sheet

The product is a physical soil conditioner designed to increase the water and nutrient holding capacity of soils and growing media, increase plants' root development, growth and survival rate and reduce the need for watering by up to 50%. The product is a dry, free flowing, powdery-to-granular mixture of cross-linked hydroabsorbent polymers, growth precursors and volcanic rock enriched with soluble, slow release and synthetic nitrogen fertilisers. The product has an absorption capacity of a minimum of 4500 g H2O/100 g in distilled water using Method of Analysis CEN EN 13041 and more than 95% of the water contained in the polymers is plant available.

The soil conditioning technology has to be mixed homogeneously into the root zone or growing medium.

[Diagram showing soil conditioning technology being mixed into the root zone]

Benefits

• HEALTHIER PLANTS & INCREASED YIELDS
• INCREASED SURVIVAL RATE
• INCREASED WATER RETENTION CAPACITY
• WATER SAVINGS OF UP TO 50%
• STRONGER & DEEPER ROOT DEVELOPMENT
• FASTER & BETTER PLANT ESTABLISHMENT
• HIGHER RESISTANCE TO DROUGHT STRESS AND DISEASES
• BETTER USE OF FERTILISERS
• ENABLES PLANT GROWTH IN DEGRADED, SALINE OR OTHERWISE MARGINAL SOILS

Applications

Tree & shrub planting Flower and shrub beds, roof gardens, lawns, etc. Window boxes, hanging baskets and containers Horticulture Agriculture

When to Apply?

When planting or just before seeding.

Application Frequency?

Just once.

Machinery Required for Application?

For lawns and large areas of land: Fertiliser spreader (preferably drop type) & rotary hoe.

Composition

• Mixture of cross-linked hydroabsorbent polymers ........ 39.50%
• Fertilisers ...................................................................... 10.50%
  • N total ............................................... 4.5%
  • P2O5 soluble in mineral acid .................. 1%
  • K2O soluble in water .......................... 5.5%
  • Micronutrients: B, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Zn
• Growth precursors............................................................ 0.25%
• Volcanic rock.................................................................. 49.75%

Technical Characteristics

• Bulk Density..................................................................~ 800 g /l
• Dry matter..........................................................................~ 96%
• pH (1 g /l H2O)........................................................................ ~ 7
• Absorption capacity in distilled water (Method of Analysis CEN EN 13041)........ .minimum 4500 g H2O/100 g
• Absorption capacity in solution of 2 g/l Ca(NO3)2 (Method of Analysis CEN EN 13041)..........minimum 1500 g H2O/100 g
• Dry granular mixture free of micro-organisms
• Certified non-toxic
• Particle size............................................ 0.63 mm – 4 mm (>85%)
• Lifespan........................................................................... 8 years

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Universal

Leading soil conditioning technology

Application Rates & Methods

Agriculture

Application per plant hole – see Tree & shrub planting

Horticulture

Containerised application – see Baskets, containers, troughs etc.

Tree* & Shrub Planting

1-2 kg per m3 growing medium or soil taken from plant hole or 1-2 grams per litre soil

[Diagram showing 6 steps for tree and shrub planting]

1. Dig plant hole at least 2x the diameter of the root ball, container or spread of roots in the shape of a cube. Keep small amount of soil from the hole apart from the rest.
2. Add TerraCottem® Universal (TCU) to soil taken from the hole at recommended rate and mix well.
3. Fill partially with TCU-soil mixture. Place tree in hole.
4. Fill partially with TCU-soil mixture not higher than the top of the root ball.
5. Apply the soil set apart earlier as a mulch layer, creating a concave shape to trap available water.
6. Water thoroughly.

Flower & Shrub Beds, Lawns, Etc.

100-200 grams per m2 or 500-1000 grams per m3 growing medium mixed off-site

[Diagram showing 7 steps for flower and shrub beds, lawns, etc.]

1. Apply TerraCottem® Universal (TCU) to surface at recommended rate with a fertiliser spreader or mix off-site with growing medium and apply this to surface.
2. For small areas (e.g. a couple of dozen square metres/yards) and slopes apply TCU manually at recommended rate.
3. On the same day, incorporate TCU into the root zone to a depth of 20 cm/8 inches with a rotary hoe or similar, across the length and width of the area.
4. For slopes, use a hoe to incorporate the product into the soil at a depth of 20 cm/8 in.
5. Prepare the soil for planting or seeding.
6. Plant or seed & water thoroughly.
7. Water thoroughly.

Roof Gardens, Baskets, Containers, Troughs, Etc.

5 kg per m3 growing medium or 5 grams per litre growing medium

1. Mix TerraCottem® Universal (TCU) completely with substrate at recommended rate.
2. Fill bottom of container with TCU-soil mixture.
3. Place plant in container and fill with this TCU-soil mixture.
4. Water thoroughly.

*fruit trees, evergreens & deciduous trees

The above-mentioned rates are applicable in the majority of cases. However they may vary according to the climate, type of soil and recommendations of the project manager, architect or consultant. For recommended methods and specific rates contact your distributor.

Tc Quality Mechanism (Tcqm)

To maximise the benefits of the TerraCottem method, support your specification with ‘The Compliance Solution’, a process management tool supplied through TC Advantage or their approved representative.

Distributor: TerraCottem Australia

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