Horticulture Production & Techniques Lecture 17&18 after midterm 1

Irrigation

artificial supply of water to foster plant growth, getting water where it doesn't happen naturally

Water is applied

serve as a carrier for nutrients, cool plants, leach soluble salts from container, and protect from freezing damage

Irrigation Efficiency

(Beneficially Used water/ Total Water Applied) x 100, Normally really low for everything

Types of Irrigation: Overhead Sprinklers

dominant system in outdoor,small container production, maximize system, maintenance cont spacing plant grouping, overspray and output

Overhead Sprinklers Pros

Inexpensive to set up, long lived, no individual handling, no complicated harvesting

Overhead Sprinklers Cons

wasteful: very inefficient, 25% irrigation effecency in a good system, difficult to obtain uniform coverage, may promote weeds,may create swampy area

Systems of Overhead Sprinklers

Lines, Risers,

Sprinkler Heads

Impact, Spary,

Mircoirrigation

used mostly for large containers outdoors or large and small containers indoors

Mircoirrigation Pros

very efficient, 90-95% irrigation efficiency, water deliverd to root zone, fewer weeds

Microirrigation Cons

lots of work + time,complicates harvest, rodent damage,less spacing flexibility

Microirrigation Systems

Drippers,Spray Stakes, Mini sprinklers, weighted emitters

Microirrigation Maximizing the System

maintenance, pressure regulation, plant grouping

Subirrigation

more common in greenhouses, high water efficiency, runoff captured, better crop performance, nutrient recycling

Subirrigation: Bench Trays

water released from a reservoir into trays on benches, last long time

Subirrigation: Flood Trough

water released from a reservoir into troughs

Subirrigation: Flood Floor

water released from reservoir into pools on the floor

Subirrigation: Capillary Mats

water released from a reservoir into mats

Subirrigation Cons

pathogens spread, expensive, no soluble salt leaching, water treatment, clogging due to debris, matts damage

Hand Irrigation

efficiency determined by employee, high labor cost, daily labor input, stop gap measure

Boom Irrigation

a form of overhead irrigation, used for flats and small containers

Capturing Run Off

regulated via water quality standards, federal, state, local