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

High-pH irrigation water locks iron, manganese, zinc, and phosphorus out of reach at the root zone. Delivering water at pH 6.5–6.6 makes them available again, with no added inputs.

On a farm running both, carbonic acid blocks showed 69% higher CO₂ respiration and 12.34% greater microbial diversity than sulfuric acid blocks. ECO2MIX installs, supplies, monitors, and maintains every system under a fixed-price service contract. Over 100 systems have run in California and Florida since 2017.

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ECO2MIX CO2 tank and control cabinet at a pump station beside an orchard
~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)
Eryn Gray, Owner & Agronomist, AgroSource

“ECO2 brings more of a natural approach to water treatment versus some of our products that we've used in the past. ECO2 is something that provides a safe product that also incorporates or is natural to the plant environment.”

Eryn Gray
Eryn Gray Owner & Agronomist, AgroSource
  • 20 years advising growers as an agronomist and consultant
  • Recommends carbonic acid over the water treatment products he used before
  • A safe product that is natural to the plant environment

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.

Iron Deficiency Chlorosis: The Iron Is Already There

Iron Deficiency Chlorosis: The Iron Is Already There

 ·  agriculturebicarbonatesoil-health

Iron deficiency chlorosis turns new leaves yellow even in soil full of iron. What bicarbonate does at the root, and why iron fertilizer fades.

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Where the Salt Goes Under Drip Irrigation

Where the Salt Goes Under Drip Irrigation

 ·  agricultureirrigationbicarbonate

Where salt goes when you irrigate, why it collects at the edge of the wet zone, and what your water report does not tell you about sodium.

Read more →
How Soil Texture Shapes the Drip Irrigation Wetting Pattern

How Soil Texture Shapes the Drip Irrigation Wetting Pattern

 ·  agricultureirrigationsoil-health

How soil texture shapes the drip irrigation wetting pattern under an emitter, and why sand, loam and clay wet in three different shapes.

Read more →
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 is pending approval 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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