Locus Agriculture is expanding the use of its Unpac soil conditioner in potato production, targeting compacted soils that can restrict root development, water movement and tuber growth.

The product uses fermentation-derived glycolipids to reduce surface tension and help water penetrate and spread through the soil profile. For potatoes, Locus says Unpac can be applied in-furrow as part of a crop production program to create a looser growing environment as roots and tubers develop.

The company reports that field programs combining Unpac with its microbial technology have produced potato yield increases of between 10% and 15%. Locus has not attributed those gains to Unpac alone, with the results relating to programs in which the soil conditioner was used alongside the company’s microbial products.

Third-party laboratory testing cited by Locus also found reduced soil density across different moisture levels and improved water penetration in agricultural soils from California’s Central Coast and Central Valley compared with untreated water.

“Compaction is more than a soil problem. It’s a crop performance problem,” said Dave Dyson, lead agronomist at Locus Agriculture. “When roots encounter dense soil, they have a harder time exploring the soil profile for the water and nutrients the crop needs. Unpac gives growers another tool for improving that root-zone environment.”

Unlike mechanical approaches to alleviating compaction, Unpac is intended to modify soil-water interactions. Locus says the technology is designed to fit into existing crop-management programs while improving water movement into soil micropores and supporting root access to available water and nutrients.

The company is expanding the use of the glycolipid technology across both row and specialty crops as part of a wider portfolio covering biologicals, inoculants, foliar products, soil treatments and adjuvants.