Session 19. Microirrigation in Container and Greenhouse Production
Pulsing Microirrigation for Production of Container-Grown Landscape Ornamental--I. Plant Growth and Water Conservation
R. C. Beeson, Jr. and J. J. Haydu
Four tree species (Quercus virginiana, Acer rubrum, Ulmus alata,and Lagerstroemia indica were grown in 10.2 liter polyethylene containers. Trees were irrigated with overhead impact sprinklers (control) or with individual spray stakes. Microirrigated treatments consisted of the same or double the volume per container as the control applied as one to three pulsed subvolumes. Growth was similar for Q. virginiana and U. alata irrigated with single or double volumes applied in 2 or 3 pulses and were significantly larger than control trees. To maximum growth of A. rubrum and L. indica,the double volume as 3 pulses was required. Growth of single pulsed, single volume trees was equivalent to that of control trees; indicating growth effects were due to pulsing, not microirrigation. Superior trees were produced with pulsed microirrigation using 25% or 50% of the water volume per area applied through sprinkler irrigation at commercial container spacings.
Keywords: Microirrigation, tree growth, containers, production, water conservation, water efficiency, pulse irrigation
Abstract taken from paper found on pages 552 to 558 in Proceedings of 5th International Microirrigation Congress, April 2-6, 1995, Orlando, Florida. American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 2950 Niles Road, St. Joseph, Michigan 49085-9659, USA. Phone: 616-429-0300 FAX: 616-429-3852 EMAIL: HQ@ASAE.ORG
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An Economic Assessment of Irrigated Container-Grown Landscape Plants with Overhead or Pulsed Systems
J. J. Haydu and R. C. Beeson Jr.
Nursery producers are faced with increasing pressures on two fronts, business profitability and environmental concerns over water quality and availability. Adequate water supplies for production purposes are especially crucial in such key areas as California and Florida where restrictions are common. Under these constraints, improving the technical and economic efficiency of irrigation systems is essential. While past research has examined certain technical efficiencies, little effort has been directed at the economic feasibility of alternative irrigation systems for ornamental nursery crops.
Two irrigation systems, pulsed microirrigation and overhead, were examined using the same volume of water per pot to determine the economic advantages of one system over the other for container-grown landscape plants. Rooted cuttings or small seedlings of Ulmus alata, Acer rubrum, Quercus virginiana, and Lagerstroemia indica, were transplanted into 10.2 liter polyethylene containers. Key economic variables considered were initial investment costs, labor inputs, water use, and variations in production times. Results indicate that, although initial investment costs were nearly double and additional labor for maintenance were required for the pulsed microirrigation system, these were offset by a substantial reduction in time to achieve a harvestable crop and a nearly 4-fold savings in water.
Keywords: Microirrigation, growth rate, installation costs, direct costs, gross returns, net returns
Abstract taken from paper found on pages 559 to 565 in Proceedings of 5th International Microirrigation Congress, April 2-6, 1995, Orlando, Florida. American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 2950 Niles Road, St. Joseph, Michigan 49085-9659, USA. Phone: 616-429-0300 FAX: 616-429-3852 EMAIL: HQ@ASAE.ORG
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A System of Microirrigation for Optimum Fertilizing Study in Hippeastrum spp.
Ch. Alekperov, F. Barukhin, J. Ben-Asher, J. Ephrath
The combination of irrigation and fertilization research can determine the water and fertilizer requirements of amaryllis (Hippeastrum spp.). The microirrigation system is built of drip irrigation. We developed a system built of two parallel drip lines: one for nitrogen supply and the other is for potassium supply. The stock solutions (for nitrogen (N=13.12 g 1-1) and for potassium (K=9.38 g 1-1)) were stored in two fertilizers tank. A variation of the two line source variable design experiments using trickle instead of sprinkler irrigation is suggested.
Keywords: Arid agriculture, controlled environment, drip system design, irrigation water management, N & K fertilizer, soil samples
Abstract taken from paper found on pages 566 to 570 in Proceedings of 5th International Microirrigation Congress, April 2-6, 1995, Orlando, Florida. American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 2950 Niles Road, St. Joseph, Michigan 49085-9659, USA. Phone: 616-429-0300 FAX: 616-429-3852 EMAIL: HQ@ASAE.ORG
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Chemical Root Pruning and its Effects on Water Relations and Root Morphology of Photinia
D. R. Vartak, J. M. Zajicek, M. J. McFarland, M. A. Arnold
Chemical root pruning studies were carried out on greenhouse grown Photinia x fraseri commonly known as red-tip Photinia. Thirty plants were grown in containers coated on interior surfaces with 100 g Cu(OH)2/liter of latex carrier and 30 were grown in non-treated containers. The effects of chemical root pruning on water relations and root morphology were studied. Chemically root pruned plants had a higher plant water uptake (10-15% more than control plants). This was due to the apparent increase in fibrosity (branching) of the root system. Root surface area was found to be more uniformly distributed in treated containers. Uniformity of root distribution was largely responsible for higher plant water uptake in treated containers. It was also the reason for better morphological development of treated plants. Leaf water potential and stomatal conductance were not significantly different between treated and non-treated plants.
Keywords: Photinia, water use, root pruning, copper, Spin Outtm, container production
Abstract taken from paper found on pages 571 to 578 in Proceedings of 5th International Microirrigation Congress, April 2-6, 1995, Orlando, Florida. American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 2950 Niles Road, St. Joseph, Michigan 49085-9659, USA. Phone: 616-429-0300 FAX: 616-429-3852 EMAIL: HQ@ASAE.ORG
