Water Conservation, Growth, and Water Use Efficiency of Container-grown Woody Ornamentals Irrigated Based on Daily Water Use

Irrigation scheduling based on plant daily water use (DWU) to conserve water without adversely affecting plant growth compared with a traditional irrigation rate was investigated for 25 common container-grown woody ornamentals. Ten different taxa were grown in 2006 and 2007 and five in 2008 in 10.2-L (No. 3) containers. Overhead irrigation was applied in four treatments: 1) a control irrigation rate of 19 mm (1.07 L per container) per application (control); 2) irrigation scheduled to replace 100% DWU per application (100DWU); 3) irrigation alternating every other application with 100% replacement of DWU and 75% DWU (100-75); and 4) irrigation scheduled on a three application cycle replacing 100% DWU followed by two applications of 75% DWU (100-75-75). Irrigation applications were separated by at least 24 h. Daily water use was calculated by measuring the difference in volumetric moisture content 1 h and approximately 24 h after irrigation. The three DWU treatments reduced total irrigation applied 6% to 75% compared with the control depending on treatment and species, except for Buddleja davidii ‘Guinevere’ in which total irrigation applied by the 100DWU, 100-75, and 100-75-75 treatments was 26%, 10%, and 5%, respectively, greater than the amount applied to the control. Final growth index [(plant height + width A + width B)/3] of all DWU treatments was greater than or equal to the control for all taxa. Forsythia ×intermedia ‘New Hampshire Gold’, Hydrangea arborescens ‘Dardom’, Hydrangea paniculata ‘Unique’, and Weigela florida ‘Wilma’ had higher water use efficiencies (estimated as the change in growth index per liter of water applied) at lower irrigation treatment volumes with no differences in growth index or growth index increase, indicating that further irrigation reductions may be possible without affecting growth. PourThru electrical conductivity of H. arborescens ‘Dardom’, Spiraea fritschiana ‘Wilma’, and Viburnum ×burkwoodii ‘Chenaultii’ measured in 2007 did not accumulate to damaging levels. Final plant size of all taxa under DWU treatments was the same or greater than the control and substantially less water was applied under DWU treatments except for B. davidii ‘Guinevere’.

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A Comparison of Overhead Irrigation Scheduling and Switch Tensiometers

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.35.4.554a ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 35 (4) ◽

pp. 554A-554

Author(s):

Edward Bush ◽

Ann Gray ◽

Virginia Thaxton ◽

Paul Wilson

Keyword(s):

Irrigation Management ◽

Irrigation Treatment ◽

Irrigation Scheduling ◽

Harvest Date ◽

Planting Dates ◽

Woody Ornamentals ◽

Harvest Dates ◽

Overhead Irrigation ◽

Low Tension ◽

Irrigation Volume

Proper irrigation management is essential for producing quality container-grown woody ornamentals and reducing off-site runoff. Research has shown that tensiometers can be used as an effective tool to schedule irrigation for woody ornamentals. The objective of this experiment was to compare the effect of cyclic and tensiometric irrigation methods on growth of lantana. Lantana camara `New Gold' liners were established in a 3 pine bark: 1 peat:1 mason sand (by volume) medium. Low-tension switch tensiometers were compared to scheduled overhead [one time a day (1×) at 0600 and cyclic irrigation three times a day (3×) at 0600, 1200, and 1800] for the production of 1-gallon lantana plants. Three low-tension tensiometers (1/block) were set at 7 cb and allowed to irrigate over a 12-hour period. Three separate planting dates occurred and then terminated after ≈7 weeks. Tensiometric irrigation increased root and shoot growth compared to scheduled irrigation for the 24 May 1999 harvest date. Cyclic irrigation produced plants with shoot and total root weights >1× and tensiometer treatments for the September harvest date. Tensiometers sharply reduced irrigation requirements compared to scheduled irrigation volume by at least 50% of the 1× and 3× treatments weekly. Analysis of nutrients in leachate for June indicated increased B and Fe concentrations in the 3× irrigation treatment. Lower concentrations of Ca, Mg, and Na were measured in August. Lantana growth was acceptable for all irrigation treatments and harvest dates.

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Periodic Versus Real-time Adjustment of a Leaching Fraction-based Microirrigation Schedule for Container-grown Plants

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci14402-19 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 55 (1) ◽

pp. 83-88 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jeff B. Million ◽

Thomas H. Yeager

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Real Time ◽

Water Use ◽

Water Conservation ◽

Irrigation System ◽

Irrigation Schedule ◽

Irrigation Scheduling ◽

Leaching Fraction ◽

Reduced Water ◽

Irrigation Practices

Two experiments were conducted to determine if a leaching fraction (LF)-guided irrigation practice with fixed irrigation run times between LF tests (LF_FX) could be improved by making additional adjustments to irrigation run times based on real-time weather information, including rain, using an evapotranspiration-based irrigation scheduling program for container production (LF_ET). The effect of the two irrigation practices on plant growth and water use was tested at three target LF values (10%, 20%, and 40%). For both Viburnum odoratissimum (Expt. 1) and Podocarpus macrophyllus (Expt. 2) grown in 36-cm-diameter containers with spray-stake microirrigation, the change in plant size was unaffected by irrigation treatments. LF_ET reduced water use by 10% compared with LF_FX in Expt. 2 but had no effect (P < 0.05) on water use in Expt. 1. Decreasing the target LF from 40% to 20% reduced water use 28% in both experiments and this effect was similar for both irrigation practices. For the irrigation system and irrigation schedule used in these experiments, we concluded that an LF-guided irrigation schedule with a target LF of 10% resulted in plant growth similar to one with a target LF of 40% and that the addition of a real-time weather adjustment to irrigation run times provided little or no improvement in water conservation compared with a periodic adjustment based solely on LF testing.

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Container-grown Ornamental Plant Growth and Water Runoff Nutrient Content and Volume Under Four Irrigation Treatments

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.44.6.1573 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 44 (6) ◽

pp. 1573-1580 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Aaron L. Warsaw ◽

R. Thomas Fernandez ◽

Bert M. Cregg ◽

Jeffrey A. Andresen

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Irrigation Treatment ◽

Growth Index ◽

Nutrient Content ◽

Nutrient Loss ◽

Control Treatment ◽

Thuja Plicata ◽

Water Runoff ◽

Irrigation Rate ◽

Irrigation Treatments

Container-grown woody ornamentals were irrigated according to a percentage of daily water use (DWU) or a traditional irrigation rate to evaluate plant growth, irrigation volume, runoff, and nutrient loss from each irrigation treatment. Deutzia gracilis Sieb. and Zucc. ‘Duncan’, Kerria japonica (L.) DC. ‘Albiflora’, Thuja plicata D. Don. ‘Atrovirens’, and Viburnum dentatum L. ‘Ralph Senior’ were grown in 10.2-L (# 3) containers under four overhead irrigation treatments: 1) a control irrigation rate of 19 mm per application (control); 2) irrigation scheduled to replace 100% DWU per application (100DWU); 3) irrigation alternating every other application with 100% replacement of DWU and 75% DWU (100–75); and 4) irrigation scheduled on a three-application cycle with one application of 100% DWU followed by two applications replacing 75% DWU (100–75–75). Applications were separated by at least 24 h. Total irrigation applied for the 100DWU, 100–75, and 100–75–75 treatments was 33%, 41%, and 44% less, respectively, than the total water applied by the control treatment of 123 L per container. Plants grown under the three DWU treatments had a final growth index greater than or equal to plants irrigated by the control treatment depending on species. Daily average runoff volumes from production areas irrigated with 100% and 75% DWU were 66% and 79% lower than average control runoff of 11.4 L·m−2·d−1 across all collection days. Quantity of NO3–-N lost daily across all collection days for the 100% DWU and 75% DWU irrigation volumes averaged 38% and 59% less, respectively, than the control. Daily losses of PO43–- P quantities across all collection days under the 100% and 75% DWU volumes were 46% and 74% lower, respectively, compared with the control. Irrigating according to the DWU treatments used in this study reduced irrigation and runoff volumes and NO3–-N and PO43–-P losses compared with a control of 19 mm per application while producing the same size or larger plants.

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685 PB 227 A SIMPLE COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR UPDATING WATER BUDGETS FOR IRRIGATED VEGETABLES

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.29.5.531a ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 29 (5) ◽

pp. 531a-531

Author(s):

Eric H. Simonne ◽

Joseph M. Kemble ◽

Doyle A. Smittle

Keyword(s):

Water Management ◽

Computer Program ◽

Water Use ◽

Irrigation Scheduling ◽

Weather Data ◽

Rooting Depth ◽

Water Budgets ◽

Scheduling Irrigation ◽

Daily Water ◽

Water Holding

A TurboPascal computer program was developed to calculate daily water budgets and schedule irrigations. Daily water use (di) is calculated as pan evaporation (Ep) times a crop factor (CFi), where i is crop age. The water balance uses a dynamic rooting depth, the soil water holding capacity (SWC) and rainfall data (Ri). di is added to the cumulative water use (Di-1) and Ri is subtracted from Di. An irrigation in the amount of Di is recommended when Di approximates allowable water use. The program cart be adapted to most crop and soil types, and can be used for on-time irrigation scheduling or for simulating water application using past or projected weather data. This program should increase the acceptance of modem scheduling irrigation techniques by farmers and consultants. Additionally, this program may have application in an overall water management programs for farms, watersheds or other areas where water management is required.

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Estimating Daily Water Use of Two Petunia Cultivars Based on Plant and Environmental Factors

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.46.9.1287 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 46 (9) ◽

pp. 1287-1293 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Jongyun Kim ◽

Marc W. van Iersel ◽

Stephanie E. Burnett

Keyword(s):

Water Use ◽

Environmental Conditions ◽

Irrigation System ◽

Irrigation Scheduling ◽

Ornamental Plant ◽

Environmental Data ◽

Data Logger ◽

Daily Light Integral ◽

Daily Water ◽

Light Integral

Many ornamental plant growers water excessively to reduce the risk of drought stress. Scheduling irrigation in greenhouses is challenging because there is little quantitative information about ornamental plant water requirements and how water use changes when plants are grown in varying greenhouse environmental conditions. Models to estimate the daily water use (DWU) of greenhouse crops may provide a useful tool to conserve irrigation water. Our objective was to develop a model to predict DWU based on plant age and easily acquirable environmental data. Two petunia (Petunia ×hybrida) cultivars, Single Dreams Pink and Prostrate Easy Wave Pink, were grown in different sized containers (diameter = 10, 12.5, and 15 cm) to quantify their DWU for 6 weeks. The substrate water content (θ, v/v) was maintained at 0.40 m3·m−3 using an automated irrigation system with capacitance soil moisture sensors. Every irrigation event was recorded by a data logger, and this information was used to calculate the DWU of the plants. On overcast days early in the experiment, plants used only 4.8 to 13.8 mL·d−1. The maximum DWU of ‘Single Dreams Pink’ was 63, 96, and 109 mL·d−1 in 10-, 12.5-, and 15-cm containers, respectively. Late in the experiment, ‘Prostrate Easy Wave Pink’ petunia used more water than ‘Single Dreams Pink’ because of their more vigorous growth habit. DWU was modeled as a function of days after planting (DAP), daily light integral (DLI), vapor pressure deficit (VPD), temperature, container size, and interactions between these factors and DAP (R2 = 0.93 and 0.91 for ‘Single Dreams Pink’ and ‘Prostrate Easy Wave Pink’, respectively). Days after planting and container size were the most important factors affecting DWU and are indicative of plant size. Daily light integral was the most important environmental factor affecting DWU. These models, describing the DWU as a function of the DAP and environmental conditions, may be used as guidelines for accurately watering petunias in greenhouses and may improve irrigation scheduling.

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Peach response to water deficit in a semi-arid region

International Agrophysics ◽

10.2478/v10247-012-0099-2 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 27 (3) ◽

pp. 305-311 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

C. Paltineanu ◽

L. Septar ◽

C. Moale ◽

S. Nicolae ◽

C. Nicola

Keyword(s):

Soil Water ◽

Water Use ◽

Water Conservation ◽

Deficit Irrigation ◽

Irrigation Treatment ◽

Fruit Yield ◽

Dry Matter Content ◽

Irrigation Water Use ◽

Future Global Warming ◽

Semi Arid

Abstract During three years a deficit irrigation experiment was performed on peach response under the semi-arid conditions of south-eastern Romania. Three sprinkler-irrigated treatments were investigated: fully irrigated, deficit irrigation treatment, and non-irrigated control treatment. Soil water content ranged between 60 and 76% of the plant available soil water capacity in fully irrigated, between 40 and 62% in deficit irrigation treatment, and between 30 and 45% in control. There were significant differences in fruit yield between the treatments. Irrigation water use efficiency was maximum in deficit irrigation treatment. Fruit yield correlated significantly with irrigation application. Total dry matter content, total solids content and titrable acidity of fruit were significantly different in the irrigated treatments vs. the control. Significant correlation coefficients were found between some fruit chemical components. For the possible future global warming conditions, when water use becomes increasingly restrictive, deficit irrigation will be a reasonable solution for water conservation in regions with similar soil and climate conditions.

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Water Conserving Irrigation Practices, Plant Growth, Seasonal Crop Coefficients, and Nutrition of Container-Grown Woody Ornamentals

Water ◽

10.3390/w11102070 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (10) ◽

pp. 2070 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Fernandez ◽

Pershey ◽

Andresen ◽

Cregg

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Growth Index ◽

Nutrient Content ◽

Woody Ornamentals ◽

Foliar Nutrient ◽

Control Versus ◽

Daily Water ◽

Irrigation Treatments ◽

Crop Coefficients ◽

Irrigation Practices

Irrigation practices for container nursery crops often result in over-application and can lead to leaching of nutrients and reduced growth. Our objectives were to: (1) compare growth and foliar nutrient content for plants under daily water use (DWU) based irrigation treatments, (2) determine DWU of 14 woody ornamental taxa, and (3) classify taxa into irrigation functional groups based on crop coefficients (KC). Irrigation was applied daily to 8 taxa in 2009 and 2010 using a control of 19 mm and three irrigation treatments: (1) replacing 100% plant DWU (100DWU) each day, (2) alternating 100% DWU with 75% DWU in a 2-day cycle (100-75DWU), and (3) a 3-day cycle replacing 100% DWU the first day and 75% DWU on the second and third days (100-75-75DWU). In 2009, seasonal average DWU ranged between 8.8 and 17.3 mm depending on taxa and treatment. Most DWU-based treatments resulted in less water applied than the control, yet plant growth was not reduced, and for one taxon (Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’) the 100DWU increased plant growth index. Lower foliar P and K concentrations were found for several taxa in control versus DWU treatments. In 2010, DWU for the season ranged between 2.1- and 22.0-mm d−1 depending on taxa and treatment. Growth was lower only for 100-75-75DWU Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’ compared to other treatments and there were no differences in foliar nutrient content.

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Irrigating Based on Daily Water Use Reduces Nursery Runoff Volume and Nutrient Load Without Reducing Growth of Four Conifers

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.50.10.1553 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 50 (10) ◽

pp. 1553-1561 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Nicholas A. Pershey ◽

Bert M. Cregg ◽

Jeffrey A. Andresen ◽

R. Thomas Fernandez

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Water Use ◽

Growth Index ◽

Nutrient Content ◽

Chamaecyparis Obtusa ◽

Thuja Plicata ◽

Runoff Volume ◽

Daily Water ◽

Irrigation Treatments ◽

Nursery Runoff

The objectives of this study were to quantify irrigation volume, runoff volume and nutrient content, and plant growth of container-grown conifers when irrigated based on plant daily water use (DWU) vs. a standard irrigation rate. Four conifer taxa were grown in 10.2-L (no. 3) containers subjected to four irrigation treatments from 23 June to 16 Oct. 2009 and 6 June to 31 Oct. 2010. The taxa were: 1) Chamaecyparis obtusa Sieb. & Zucc. ‘Filicoides’, 2) Chamaecyparis pisifera (Sieb. & Zucc.) Endl. ‘Sungold’, 3) Thuja occidentalis L. ‘Holmstrup’, and 4) Thuja plicata D. Donn ‘Zebrina’. The four irrigation treatments were: 1) control application of 19 mm·d−1, 2) irrigation applied to replace 100% DWU (100 DWU) per day, 3) applications alternating 100% with 75% DWU in a 2-day cycle (100–75 DWU), and 4) a 3-day application cycle replacing 100% DWU the first day and 75% DWU on the second and third days (100–75–75 DWU). Irrigation treatments did not affect plant growth index {GI= [(H + WNS + WEW)/3]} in 2009. In 2010, GI of C. obtusa ‘Filicoides’ was greater for 100 DWU than the control plants. Seasonal total water applied for 100, 100–75, and 100–75–75 DWU was 22%, 32%, and 56% less, respectively, than the control amount of 117 L per container in 2009 (114 days) and 24%, 18%, and 24% less than the control amount of 165 L per container in 2010 (147 days). Scheduling irrigation based on DWU reduced runoff volumes and (nitrate-nitrogen) NO3−-N and (phosphate-phosphorous) PO43−-P load compared with the control. Irrigating based on DWU reduced water application and runoff volumes and NO3−-N and PO43−-P load while producing plants of equal or greater size than control plants.

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EVALUATION OF RESIDENTIAL WATER UTILIZATION UNDER AN EDUCATION AND CONSERVATION PROGRAM

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.27.6.640e ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 27 (6) ◽

pp. 640e-640

Author(s):

Richard A. Wit ◽

Garald L. Horst ◽

Donald H. Steinegger ◽

Blaine L. Blad

Keyword(s):

Water Use ◽

Water Conservation ◽

System Performance ◽

Potential Evapotranspiration ◽

Irrigation System ◽

Kentucky Bluegrass ◽

The United States ◽

Irrigation Scheduling ◽

Test Method ◽

Water Meters

Depletion and contamination of traditional water supplies and population pressures are straining the water resources of the United States. This has placed increased emphasis on the need for water conservation through all phases of the use cycle. Objectives of this research were to: 1) Determine water use in residential, commercial, and institutional landscapes; 2) Evaluate landscape irrigation system performance; and 3) Evaluate feasibility of landscape irrigation scheduling. Beginning in 1991, water meters on 18 test sites in Lincoln, NE were read on a weekly basis. Water meter readings during the winter were used to develop a baseline on non-landscape water use. The “can test” method was used to evaluate landscape irrigation system precipitation rate and distribution efficiency. Four recording weather stations were used to estimate daily potential evapotranspiration (ETp). Lysimeters (20 cm dia. × 31 cm deep) were installed in two Kentucky bluegrass and one tall fescue landscape to estimate water use coefficients for calculating landscape evapotranspiration. Irrigation system Christiansen coefficients of uniformity ranged from .43 to .87 with scheduling coefficients ranging from 1.31 to over 15.14. Poor irrigation system performance characteristics made it difficult to schedule irrigation on estimated water use.

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Estimation of Daily Water Requirements for Potted Ornamental Crops

HortTechnology ◽

10.21273/horttech.2.4.454 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 2 (4) ◽

pp. 454-456

Author(s):

C.D. Stanley ◽

B.K. Harbaugh

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

Water Use ◽

Water Conservation ◽

Growth Habit ◽

Prediction Equations ◽

Evaporative Demand ◽

Water Requirements ◽

Daily Water ◽

Input Variables ◽

Growing Conditions

Methodology was developed to estimate water requirements for production of 20 different potted ornamental plant species with practical application for water conservation in commercial operations. Water requirement prediction equations were generated using pan evaporation to estimate evaporative demand along with plant canopy height and width and flower height as input variables. Coefficients of determination (R2) for the prediction equations among plant species ranged from 0.51 to 0.91, with the lower values mostly associated with plant species with an open or less-uniform growth habit. Variation in water use among different cultivars of marigold also was associated with differences in cultivar growth habit. Estimation of the daily water requirements of potted Reiger begonia and Ficus benjamina using their developed prediction equations was compared to actual water use under common growing conditions to demonstrate the implementation of the method for plant species differing in growth habit.

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