Scientific Studies

Research Institution:  Department of Energetic and Environmental Engineering, EMN – Nantes, France, 2009

Team:

• Dr. Florent Chazarenc
•  A-L. Biang, engineer student

Solution investigated: Zeta potential (physical property of water)

Main results: 

• Significat reduction of the zeta potential : 50%
• Improvement of sedimentation speed : +43%

Research Institution:  Federal Office for the Environment FOEN, contract UTF 276.01.09, Switzerland, 2009-2012

Team:

• LBE Laboratory for Environmental Biotechnology, EPFL, Switzerland – Prof. Christof Holliger
• LOCIE Laboratory Optimization of Conception and Environmental Engineering, UMR CNRS 5271, University of Savoie, France – Prof. Gérard Merlin, Dr. Evelyne Gonze

Solution investigated:Biological depuration

Main results: 

• Significant improvement of biological depuration of sludge: +40%

Research Institution:  R&D project with 3 CNRS French Laboratories, France, 2012-2014

Team:

• LOCIE Laboratory Optimization of Conception and Environmental Engineering, UMR CNRS 5271, University of Savoie, France – Prof. Gérard Merlin, Dr. Evelyne Gonze and Omri Noamen (engineer student)
• CNRS G2Elab (Grenoble Electrical Engineering) Univ. Grenoble Alpes, France –Prof. Gilles Cauffet
• LCMES Laboratory of Molecular Chemistry and Solid State, UMR CNRS 7140- University of Strasbourg, France – Prof. Marc Henry

Solution investigated: Biofilm reduction

Main results: 

• Evidence of the Aqua-4D® VFL EMF propagation in water
• Significant reduction in the biofilm development: 50%
• Approach by Quantum Field Theory to explain the observed mechanisms

Article published in the Journal Water Research 83 (2015) 184-194

Research Institution:  R&D European project Eurostars with 5 CNRS French Laboratories, France, 2012-2014

Team:

• EBI Laboratory Ecology and Biology of Interactions, UMR CNRS 7267, University of Poitiers, France – Prof. Yann Héchard, Prof. Christine Imbert, Dr. Julien Verdon, Dr. Jérôme Lesobre, Dr. Joanne Bertaux, Dr. Kevin Gravouil and Dr. Anne Mercier
• CNRS-LCPME Laboratory of Physical Chemistry and Microbiology for the Environment, University of Nancy, France – Prof. Frédéric Jorand, Prof. J-C. Block, Prof. Laurence Mathieu and Eng. Florence Gosselin
• CNRS-LRGP Laboratory of Reaction and Process Engineering, UPR CNRS 3349, University of Nancy – Prof. Hervé Muhr
•  LOCIE Laboratory Optimization of Conception and Environmental Engineering, UMR CNRS 5271, University of Savoie, France – Prof. Gérard Merlin
• CNRS G2Elab (Grenoble Electrical Engineering), Univ. Grenoble Alpes, France – Prof. Gilles Cauffet

Solution investigated:Biofilm and limescale prevention

Main results: 

• Limescale prevention in potable water: from calcite to aragonite structure
• Progressive elimination of limescale deposits in potable water (curative treatment)
• Significant reduction in the biofilm development: more than 50% (with river water)
• Only a slight tendency to reduce the biofilm development with aggressive potablem water (very thin biofilm)
• Modification of the water microbial community composition
• Modification of the biofilm microbial community composition

Article published in the Journal Biofouling 32:3.287-299 (2016)

Research Institution:  Agroscope Changins-Wädenswil, Research Station ACW, National – Competence Center for Nematology, Switzerland, 2010

Team:

• Dr Sebastian Kiewnick

Solution investigated:Nematodes

Crop: Tomatoes

Main results: 

• Higher plant growth and vigor
• Less stress for the plant
• Lower Gall index and lower eggs number = nematodes control and reduced
  damages on plants

Article published in the Journal Water Research 83 (2015) 184-194

Research Institution:  INRGREF National Institute for Agricultural Engineering, Water and Forests jointly with INRAT National Institute of Tunisian – Agronomical Research, Tunisia, 2011-2012

Team:

• Pr. Mohamed Hachicha, INRGREF
• Pr. N. Khamassy, INRAT

Solution investigated:Saline water

Crop: Potatoes

Main results: 

• Higher yields: +20% with local seeds and +17% with imported seeds
• Decrease in sodium content in leaves, stems, roots and fruits = significant decrease
  in sodium toxicity for the plant

Article published in the Journal of the Saudi Society of Agricultural Sciences (2016-Elsevier
Editorial System). Manuscript Number: JSSAS-D-14-00103R1

Research Institution:  VOLCANI Center, Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), Nematology department, Israel, 2012

Team:

• Pr. Yitzhak Spiegel

Solution investigated: Biofilm reduction

Crop: Tomatoes

Main results: 

• Higher plant growth and vigor
• Better root development
• Lower Gall index and lower eggs number = nematodes control and reduced damages on plants

Article published in the Journal Water Research 83 (2015) 184-194

Research Institution:  Higher Agronomical Institute of Chott Meriem, Tunisia, 2012

Team:

• Dr. Bouthaina AL Mohandes Dridi
• Pr. Najet Raouani Horrigue
• Falfoul Karima, engineer student

Solution investigated:Nematodes

Crop: Melon

Main results: 

• Higher plant growth and vegetation
• Lower Gall index = nematodes control and reduced damages on plants
• Increase in production: +42%
• More efficient than Rugby nematicide

Research Institution:  CATV Centre for Technical Adaptation and Extension, jointly with the Hassan II Institute of Agronomy in Agadir, Morocco, 2012

Team:

• Dr. Boujmaa SIRAT, Head of the CATV
• Mrs. Zahra Ferji, nematologist at the Agronomic and Veterinary Institute Hassan II

Solution investigated: Nematodes

Crop: Tomatoes

Main results: 

• Lower Gall index and lower eggs number = nematodes control and reduced
  damages on plants
• Increase in production: +42%

Research Institution:  Water and Environmental Research Laboratory (WERL), Faculty of Science and Technology, Al-Quds University, jointly with USAID and the Technical and Applied Research Center (TARC), Occupied Palestinian Territory 2012-2013

Team:

• Amer Marei and Dia Rdaydeh, WERL
• Dia Karajeh, USAID
• Nawaf Abu-Khalaf, TARC

Solution investigated: Saline water and water savings

Crop: Bell-peppers

Main results: 

• Higher plant growth and vegetation
• Better quality
• Increase in nutrients absorption
• Water savings: 15%
• Increase in production: +20%

Article published in the Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology A4 (2014) 830-838 

Research Institution:  INRGREF National Institute for Agricultural Engineering, Water and Forests, Tunisia, 2013

Team:

•  Pr. Mohamed Hachicha

Solution investigated: Saline water

Crop: Maize seeds

Main results: 

• Faster germination
• Higher germination rate: between 10 and 25% according to the Aqua-4D®
  treatment time and salinity of water samples

Article published in the Journal of the Saudi Society of Agricultural Sciences (2016-Elsevier
Editorial System). Manuscript Number: JSSAS-D-14-00103R1

Research Institution:  CRRA Regional Center for Agronomical Research, jointly with INRGREF, Tunisia, 2013

Team:

• Pr. Hajlaoui Hichem, CRRA
• Pr. Borgi Ziad, CRRA
• Pr. Mohamed Hachicha, INRGREF

Solution investigated: Saline water

Crop: Tomatoes

Main results: 

• Higher plant growth
• Better quality
• Higher yields: +96% (close to yields with potable water)

Research Institution:  Higher Agronomical Institute ISA Chott Meriem, Tunisia, 2013

Team:

• Dr. Bouthaina AL Mohandes Dridi
• Pr Najet Raouani Horrigue
• Mabrouk Amina, engineer student

Solution investigated: Nematodes

Crop: Melon

Main results: 

• Higher plant growth and vegetation
• Better root development
• Better fruit quality
• Increase in production: +6%
• No significant effect on nematodes (Gall index) due to a severe initial infestation

Research Institution:  INRGREF National Institute for Agricultural Engineering, Water and Forests, Tunisia, 2013

Team:

• Pr. Mohamed Hachicha
• Besma Kahlaoui, engineer student

Solution investigated: Saline water

Crop: Tomatoes

Main results: 

• Higher plant growth and vegetation
• Better root development
• Better fruit quality
• Reduction of salt content in the soil (in the rhizosphere)
• Higher nutrients absorption (phosphorus, potassium)
• Decrease in sodium content in the plants
• Increase in production: +80% Rio Grande and +85% Heinz-2274 (close to the yields with potable water)

Research Institution:  ICA Iber Carthage Agro, Tunisia, 2013-2015

Team:

• Mamdouh Trabelsi

Solution investigated: Saline wate – Salt saturated soils

Crop: Vineyard

Main results: 

• Higher plant growth, vigor and vegetation
• Higher length and volume of bunch of grapes: 15-20%
• Class grapes slightly improved
• Decrease in salt conductivity of the soil
• Increase in production: +15%

Research Institution:  CATV Centre for Technical Adaptation and Extension, Morocco, 2014

Team:

• Dr. Boujmaa SIRAT, Head of the CATV

Solution investigated: Nematodes

Crop: Melon

Main results: 

Contact us for more detailed information about this study : Study of the influence of Aqua-4D® with and without nematicide (Dischloropropene), on a melon culture in a greenhouse in the presence of nematodes

Research Institution:  INRGREF National Institute for Agricultural Engineering, Water and Forests, Tunisia, 2014-2015

Team:

• Pr. Mohamed Hachicha
• Ghada Azouzi, engineer student
• Ines Ben Hamida, engineer student

Solution investigated:Salt saturated soil

Crop: no culture – study on soil behavior

Main results: 

• Significant improvement of the leaching effect, whatever the salt concentration of water (5 dosages between EC 1 to 18 dS/m)
• Improvement of soil water retention: +10%

Research Institution:  Arava Development Company, Zohar Research Center, Israel, 2015-2016

Team:

• Dr. Effi Tripler

Solution investigated: Saline water

Crop: Melons

Main results: 

• A reduced uptake of sodium and chloride
• An increased production yields

Research Institution:  UIB University of the Balearic Islands, Research Group on Plant – Biology under Mediterranean Conditions, Spain, 2015-2016

Team:

• Dr. Hipólito Medrano Gil
• Dra Josefina Bota Salort

Solution investigated:Water savings

Crop: Tomatoes

Main results: 

• Improvement of production yield: +10%
• Improvement of all quality criteria:
  o Brix +12%
  o Firmness +35%
  o Total titrable acidity +42%

Research Institution:  Embrapa Semiárido – Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, Brazil, 2016

Team:

• José Mauro, Embrapa, Phyto pathologist, Nematologist

Solution investigated:Nematodes (Meloidogyne enterolobii)

Crop: Guava

Main results: 

• All trees that were attacked by nematodes have recovered a good shape and are now able to produce fruits

Research Institution:  INRGREF National Institute for Agricultural Engineering, Water and Forests, Tunisia, 2016 2018

Team:

• Prof. Mohamed Hachicha, INRGREF
• Malek Moussa, PhD Student

Solution investigated: Saline water, Treated wastewater

Crop: Maize

Main results: 

The preliminary results obtained show that the electromagnetic treatment of treated
wastewater allows:

•  An increase in drained volumes
• A better export of certain salts, heavy metals and germs of fecal contamination
  outside the root zone.

As for the germination test of barley seeds, it has been demonstrated that Aqua-4D® induces a rapid germination of the seeds, an increase in the germination rate and an increase of the length of roots and epicotyls.

Research Institution:  Mediplant – Swiss research institute for aromatic and medicinalplants, Switzerland, 2016

Team:

• Xavier Simonnet R&D Manager

Solution investigated: Saline water

Crop: Basil

Main results: 

• A significant increase of 10% in the yield of dry leaves
•  P and Ca contents of the leaves are significantly higher

Research Institution:  UNESP – Faculty of agricultural and veterinary sciences – Campus of Jaboticabal – Department of Plant Protection – Brazil, 2016

Team:

•  Prof. Dr. Pedro Soares – Nematologist

Solution investigated: Nematodes

Crop: Soybean

Main results: 

• Under the conditions of this study, for evaluated doses, no injury was found on the germination of seeds
• Reduction of the population of Pratylenchus brachyurus nematodes
• Reduction of the population of Meloidogyne javanica eggs

Research Institution:  INRGREF National Institute for Agricultural Engineering, Water and Forests, Tunisia, 2016-2018

Team:

• Prof. Mohamed Hachicha, INRGREF
• Mohamed BOUHLEL, Mater Student

Solution investigated:Saline water

Crop: Soil only, without plants

Main results: 

• The volumes of drainage water from electromagnetically treated irrigation water are significantly higher and the salt concentrations are also higher

Research Institution:  INRGREF National Institute for Agricultural Engineering, Water and Forests jointly with INRAT National Institute of Tunisian Agronomical Research, Tunisia, 2017-2018

Team:

• Prof. Mohamed Hachicha, INRGREF
• Mohamed BOUHLEL, Mater Student

Solution investigated: 

Crop:

Main results: 

• Study in progress

Research Institution:  Unesp – São Paulo State University, Brazil, 2017 – 2018

Team:

• Pr Fernando Putti

Solution investigated: Saline Water

Crop: Tomatoes

Main results: 

• Analysis of the results in progress