NCDC216: Water Management and Quality for Ornamental Crop Production and Health
(Multistate Research Coordinating Committee and Information Exchange Group)
Status: Inactive/Terminating
NCDC216: Water Management and Quality for Ornamental Crop Production and Health
Duration: 10/01/2008 to 09/30/2010
Administrative Advisor(s):
NIFA Reps:
Non-Technical Summary
Statement of Issues and Justification
Stakeholder-driven need: The nursery/greenhouse industry ranks 5th (>$14.6 billion) in US agriculture commodities and is in the top 5 commodities for 26 states (USDA, 2004). Water issues, specifically irrigation scheduling, surface water management and water quality are quickly becoming topics of major concern to the ornamental plant industry even in what are thought of as water-rich states. Drought, urban competition for surface and groundwater water reserves, salinity and runoff water quality, and increasing legislation at state and county levels are all increasing the need for ornamental crop producers to manage water more effectively. Legislation regarding water use and/or quality has been implemented in California, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, Oregon, and Texas.
Most field (in soil) producers of ornamental stock use irrigation water at some point during the growing season, since the cost-benefit ratio of maximizing plant growth is apparent to most producers. Many field producers use low-volume (drip) irrigation, and many also use this system to deliver soluble fertilizers during the growing season. While supplemental irrigation is beneficial in field production it is essential for container production of ornamental plants. Container substrates need to be well drained and container volume limits the amount of water that can be stored. This results in frequent irrigation applications and large amounts of water used. In a recent survey, over 75% of nursery crops in 17 states (AL, CA, CT, FL, GA, IL, MI, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, TN, TX, VA, WA) were grown in containers and require irrigation, often daily (USDA, 2007). In Florida, container nurseries annually apply 56 to 120 inches per year in addition to the 40 to 50 inches of average annual rainfall. Container nurseries in Alabama were estimated to have used 30,000 to 40,000 acre-feet of water in 1985 (Fare et al., 1992) and container nursery production in Alabama has almost tripled since 1987 (USDA, 1992, 2002).
Frequent irrigation in combination with high fertilizer and pesticide use can lead to significant losses of agricultural chemicals in runoff water that transports agricultural chemicals to containment ponds and/or off-site into groundwater or surface water (Briggs et al., 1998, 2002; Cabrera, 2005; Camper et al., 1994). Irrigation water management is the key to nutrient management in ornamental crop production and the reducing impact of runoff water on local water (Tyler et al, 1996; Lea-Cox et al, 2001; Ross et al, 2002). Recycling of water includes another set of issues for growers, primarily in the form of disease and salinity management. Emerging constraints on water use and quality means that the ornamental industry needs to find ways to manage water without detracting from production schedules and crop quality. We need to therefore approach the issue of water management through a multi-disciplinary approach on a national level, since few states have the depth of knowledge to truly integrate all these issues.
Importance of the work and consequences if not done: Irrigation is therefore essential for ornamental plant production and it has large consequences on the productivity and profitability of this important sector of agriculture. The continuing record drought in the eastern US has had a severe negative impact on the nursery industry in that region. Drought and water conservation are not new issues to the western states, but state water policies are different, and drive regional and local approaches to management. Increased regulation and competition for water resources therefore calls for improved water management techniques with respect to both application and runoff water quality in all regions. Without work on improving water management and quality for ornamental crop production, the future of this economically important industry will be severely threatened.
Technical feasibility of the research: The objectives of this project are to 1) improve water and nutrient use efficiency while maintaining or improving crop production and health, 2) reduce agricultural chemical movement from target site by runoff water, 3) remediate or recycle runoff water, and 4) investigate alternative water sources such as treated municipal waste water. Several active programs around the US are currently investigating ways to improve water management and quality for nursery production to achieve these objectives.
Advantages of a multi-state effort: A multi-state effort will allow coordination of current efforts to more efficiently and productively address this issue. Projects can be replicated at different participant sites when necessary and, conversely, unnecessary duplication of effort can be avoided. Data can be shared among participants to help test and refine models. Interaction among a national group of researchers will help determine future research needs.
Likely impacts: Improving water management and quality for ornamental plant production will have several important impacts: 1) a reduction in water extraction, 2) more efficient use of water and nutrients, 3) improved technology for water and nutrient management, 4) improved crop production and health, 5) reduced leaching of fertilizers from pots 6) reduced runoff and potential off-site pollution with agricultural chemicals.
Interest in participating in this project has already been expressed by scientists in MI, MD, CA, NJ, OR, TX, VA.
Literature Cited
Briggs, J. A., M. B. Riley, and T. Whitwell. 1998. Quantification and remediation of pesticides in runoff water from containerized plant production. J. Environ. Qual. 27:814-820.
Briggs, J.A., T. Whitwell, R.T. Fernandez and M.B. Riley. 2002a. Effect of integrated pest management strategies on chlorothalonil, metalaxyl and thiophanate-methyl runoff at a container nursery. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 127:1018-1024.
Cabrera, R.I. 2005. Challenges and advances in water and nutrient management in nursery and greenhouse crops. Agric. Mediterr. 135: 147-160.
Camper, N. D., T. Whitwell, R. J. Keese, and M. B. Riley. 1994. Herbicide levels in nursery containment pond water and sediments. J. Environ. Hort. 12:8-12. Fare, D.C., C.H. Gilliam, and G.J. Keever. 1992. Monitoring irrigation at container nurseries. HortTech. 2:75-78.
Lea-Cox, J. D., D. S. Ross and K. M. Teffeau. 2001. A Water and Nutrient Management Process for Container Nursery and Greenhouse Production Systems. J. Env. Hort. 19(4): 226-229
Ross, D. S., J. D. Lea-Cox, and K. M. Teffeau. 2001. The Importance of Water in the Nutrient Management Process. Proc. Southern Nursery Assoc. Res. Conf. 46:588-591.
USDA. 1994. 1992 Census of agriculture. USDA, Washington, D.C.
USDA. 2004. 2002 Census of agriculture. USDA NASS, Washington, D.C.
USDA. 2007. Nursery crops 2006 summary. USDA NASS, Washington, D.C.
Tyler, H.H., S.L. Warren, and T.E. Bilderback. 1996. Reduced leaching fractions improve irrigation use efficiency and nutrient efficacy. J. Environ. Hort. 14:199204.