The use of hydrogen-rich irrigation water is emerging as a potential tool for supporting plant health and stress resilience in greenhouse production systems. HyO Technologies, in collaboration with Green Search Inc., is currently evaluating hydrogen-enriched irrigation systems to better their effects on crop consistency, oxidative stress management, and overall plant performance in controlled-environment agriculture.
The technology introduces dissolved molecular hydrogen directly into the irrigation water supply line. This approach allows hydrogen-rich water to be delivered to crops through existing irrigation infrastructure, without requiring changes to fertilizer programs or the addition of chemical or biological inputs. Once applied, molecular hydrogen and oxygen interact at the root zone, within plant tissues, and in the surrounding growing media, where they may influence plant physiological processes related to stress response and growth efficiency.
© HyO Technologies
According to Remco Kostwinder, President of Green Search Inc., early evaluations suggest that hydrogen-rich irrigation may help plants better manage environmental pressures commonly encountered in greenhouse production. "What we are seeing across trials is improved plant vigor and root development, along with increased tolerance to environmental stress. The reduction in reactive oxygen species appears to help plants redirect energy away from stress signaling and toward growth and nutrient utilization."
Greenhouse trials conducted to date have indicated several potential outcomes associated with hydrogen-enriched irrigation water, including more uniform crop development and improvements in yield quality consistency. Reduced levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been observed, which is significant given the role oxidative stress plays in limiting plant performance under suboptimal environmental conditions such as temperature fluctuations, light stress, or irrigation variability.
© HyO TechnologiesFrom a systems perspective, the integration of hydrogen-rich irrigation is being evaluated for its compatibility with existing greenhouse operations. The technology is designed to be installed in-line, allowing growers to implement it without major infrastructure modifications. This ease of integration is seen as an important factor for adoption, particularly in high-value greenhouse crops where operational continuity is critical.
Remco emphasizes the relevance of the technology in the context of sustainability-driven production strategies. "Hydrogen-enriched water represents a clean, nature-positive input," he noted. "It operates without harmful byproducts and aligns well with current sustainability objectives in controlled-environment agriculture, especially as growers look for tools that support plant resilience without increasing chemical inputs."
Green Search Inc. is continuing to work with HyO Technologies to support grower education and the expansion of commercial-scale trials. Ongoing collaboration aims to generate additional data across different crop types and production conditions, helping to clarify where hydrogen-rich irrigation may offer the greatest agronomic value.
HyO Technologies will be present at Cultivate 2026 in Columbus, Ohio, in July, where the company plans to share information on its hydrogen-rich irrigation systems and ongoing greenhouse evaluations. The company will be exhibiting at booth 1726.
As commercial trials continue, hydrogen-rich irrigation is being closely examined as a potential complementary approach to existing greenhouse management practices, with a focus on mitigating plant stress, improving consistency, and achieving sustainable production outcomes.
For more information:
Green Search Inc.
www.greensearchinc.com
[email protected]
HyO Technologies
hyotechnologies.com
