What's more, it could help improve the green credentials of farmers.

Adds Up Engineering, Bunda-berg, is successfully testing its new water-powered mechanical mixing tank and is set to take it to market.

Traditionally, mixing tanks use an electric motor to spin an impellor in order to dissolve fertiliser and nutrients thoroughly.

But the new, yet-to-be-named device successfully uses water pressure from the main pump in conjunction with a special motor to turn the impellor shaft.

It is a low-speed high-torque motor, based on power without using a high-speed turbine.

After almost two years refin-ing the design, business founder Tony Denton has given the final version a thorough workout at John Manera's Macadamia Enterprises farm.

Both men have been impres-sed with the outcome.

While the inner workings of the device have been kept under wraps, Mr Denton said it incorporated specially imported high-pressure plastic, as well as a high-flow water regulator valve.

Water used to drive the impellor is returned back to the main line without wasting a drop.

The device has been fitted to one of the company's Add-G-Tator tanks which has become something of a benchmark within the horticulture industry due to its mixing-conducive design.

Mr Denton said saving electricity (or diesel in the case of generator users) when mixing fertiliser was both an economic and environmental credit.

"It gives me a real buzz to think that this device is not just able to save money for the farmer but is also beneficial to the environment," Mr Denton said.

The unit will come as a complete module when sold, replacing leads and cables with pipes which hook into the pumping set-up.

The company initially investigated solar energy and batteries but neither could provide the power required to turn over the tank's volume adequately, something which becomes critical when mixing additives such as gypsum and magnesium.

There is also potential for growers to utilise new parcels of land once thought inaccessible because of limited access to power or distance to maintain a pumping schedule.

Mr Denton said the new device will be on the market by the end of the year.