scholarly journals Impact of Biocontainers With and Without Shuttle Trays on Water Use in the Production of a Containerized Ornamental Greenhouse Crop

2015 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael R. Evans ◽  
Andrew K. Koeser ◽  
Guihong Bi ◽  
Susmitha Nambuthiri ◽  
Robert Geneve ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Catharanthus Roseus ◽  
Water Loss ◽  
Wood Fiber ◽  
Dairy Manure ◽  
Rice Hull ◽  
Total Water ◽  
Coconut Fiber ◽  
Irrigation Interval ◽  
Plastic Containers ◽  
Reduced Water

Nine commercially available biocontainers and a plastic control were evaluated at Fayetteville, AR, and Crystal Springs, MS, to determine the irrigation interval and total water required to grow a crop of ‘Cooler Grape’ vinca (Catharanthus roseus) with or without the use of plastic shuttle trays. Additionally, the rate at which water passed through the container wall of each container was assessed with or without the use of a shuttle tray. Slotted rice hull, coconut fiber, peat, wood fiber, dairy manure, and straw containers were constructed with water-permeable materials or had openings in the container sidewall. Such properties increased the rate of water loss compared with more impermeable bioplastic, solid rice hull, and plastic containers. This higher rate of water loss resulted in most of the biocontainers having a shorter irrigation interval and a higher water requirement than traditional plastic containers. Placing permeable biocontainers in plastic shuttle trays reduced water loss through the container walls. However, irrigation demand for these containers was still generally higher than that of the plastic control containers.

scholarly journals Physical Properties of Biocontainers Used to Grow Long-term Greenhouse Crops in an Ebb-and-flood Irrigation System

HortScience ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 48 (6) ◽  
pp. 732-737 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie A. Beeks ◽  
Michael R. Evans
Keyword(s):  
Tensile Strength ◽  
Physical Properties ◽  
Rice Straw ◽  
Wood Fiber ◽  
Fungal Growth ◽  
Dairy Manure ◽  
Similar Amount ◽  
Coconut Fiber ◽  
Irrigation Interval ◽  
Plastic Containers

The physical properties of new 15.2-cm plastic and comparably sized bioplastic, solid ricehull, slotted ricehull, paper, peat, dairy manure, wood fiber, rice straw, and coconut fiber containers were determined. Additionally, the physical properties of these containers were determined after being used to grow ‘Rainier Purple’ cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum L.) in ebb-and-flood benches for 15 weeks in a greenhouse environment. The punch strength of new coconut fiber containers was the highest of the containers. The used plastic containers had strengths of 228.0, 230.5, and 215.2 N for the bottom, middle, and top zones, respectively. The used peat, dairy manure, and wood fiber containers had strengths of less than 15 N for each zone. Tensile strength of all new containers was 10 kg. The plastic, bioplastic, solid ricehull, slotted ricehull, paper, and coconut fiber containers had used strengths that were similar to plastic containers. Total water used for wood fiber containers was higher than plastic containers. Irrigation intervals for plastic containers were similar to bioplastic, solid ricehull, slotted ricehull, paper, and coconut fiber containers. The irrigation interval for plastic containers was 1.32 days and the wood fiber container had the shortest irrigation interval at 0.61 day. Container absorption for coconut fiber containers was 255 mL and was higher than plastic containers. Wood fiber container absorption was 141 mL and lower than plastic containers. Plastic, bioplastic, solid ricehull, and slotted ricehull containers had no visible algal or fungal growth. The wood fiber containers had 79% of the container walls covered with algae or fungi and the bottom and middle zones had 100% algae or fungi coverage. The bottom zone of rice straw, dairy manure, and peat containers also had 100% algae or fungi coverage. The bioplastic, solid ricehull, and slotted ricehull containers in this study proved to be good substitutes for plastic containers. These containers retained high levels of punch and tensile strength, had no algal and fungal growth, and required a similar amount of solution as the plastic containers to grow a cyclamen crop. The peat, dairy manure, wood fiber, and rice straw containers proved not to be appropriate substitutes for plastic containers because of the low used strengths, high percentage of algal and fungal coverage, and shorter irrigation intervals as compared with plastic containers.

scholarly journals Physical Properties of Biocontainers for Greenhouse Crops Production

2010 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 549-555 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael R. Evans ◽  
Matt Taylor ◽  
Jeff Kuehny
Keyword(s):  
Physical Properties ◽  
Surface Area ◽  
Rice Straw ◽  
Water Loss ◽  
Substrate Surface ◽  
Dairy Manure ◽  
Rice Hull ◽  
Coconut Fiber ◽  
Greenhouse Crops ◽  
Plastic Containers

The vertical dry strength of rice hull containers was the highest of all containers tested. Plastic containers and paper containers had similar vertical dry strengths. Containers composed of 80% cedar fiber and 20% peat (Fertil), composted dairy manure (Cowpot), and peat had lower dry vertical dry strengths than the aforementioned containers but had higher vertical dry strengths than those composed of bioplastic (OP47), coconut fiber, and rice straw. Rice hull containers and paper containers had the highest lateral dry strengths. Rice straw, Cowpot, and plastic containers had similar dry lateral strengths, which were significantly higher than those of OP47, Fertil, coconut fiber, and peat containers. Highest dry punch strengths occurred with traditional plastic and Cowpot containers, while the lowest dry punch strengths occurred with OP47, Fertil, coconut fiber, peat, and rice straw containers. Plastic, rice hull, and paper containers had the highest wet vertical and lateral strengths. Plastic containers had the highest wet punch strength, while Fertil, Cowpot, and peat containers had the lowest wet punch strengths. When saturated substrate was placed into containers and the substrate surface and drainage holes were sealed with wax, plastic, OP47, and rice hull containers had the lowest rates of water loss per unit of container surface area, while peat, Fertil, and rice straw containers had the highest rates of water loss per unit of container surface area. The amounts of water required to produce a geranium (Pelargonium ×hortorum) crop were significantly higher and the average irrigation intervals were shorter for peat, Fertil, coconut fiber, Cowpot, and rice straw containers than for traditional plastic containers. The amounts of water required to produce a geranium crop and the average irrigation intervals were similar among plastic, rice hull, and OP47 containers. Algal and fungal coverage on the outside container walls averaged 47% and 26% for peat and Fertil containers, respectively, and was higher than for all other containers tested, which had 4% or less algal and fungal coverage. After 8 weeks in the field, Cowpot containers had decomposed 62% and 48% in the Pennsylvania and Louisiana locations, respectively. Peat, rice straw, and Fertil containers decomposed 32%, 28%, and 24%, respectively, in Pennsylvania, and 10%, 9%, and 2%, respectively, in Louisiana. Coconut fiber containers had the lowest level of decomposition at 4% and 1.5% in Pennsylvania and Louisiana, respectively.

scholarly journals Growth of Cyclamen in Biocontainers on an Ebb-and-Flood Subirrigation System

2013 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 173-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie A. Beeks ◽  
Michael R. Evans
Keyword(s):  
Plant Growth ◽  
Rice Straw ◽  
Wood Fiber ◽  
Dairy Manure ◽  
Coconut Fiber ◽  
Cyclamen Persicum ◽  
Affected Plant ◽  
Shoot Weight ◽  
Plastic Containers

The objective for this research was to evaluate the growth of a long-term crop in biodegradable containers compared with traditional plastic containers using a subirrigation system. Plastic, bioplastic, solid ricehull, slotted ricehull, paper, peat, dairy manure, wood fiber, rice straw, and coconut fiber containers were used to evaluate plant growth of ‘Rainier Purple’ cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum) in ebb-and-flood subirrigation benches. The days to flower ranged from 70 to 79 and there were no significant differences between the plastic containers and the biocontainers. The dry shoot weights ranged from 23.9 to 37.4 g. Plants grown in plastic containers had dry shoot weights of 27.6 g. The dry shoot weight of plants grown in containers composed of wood fiber was 23.9 g and was lower than plants grown in plastic containers. The plants grown in the bioplastic, solid ricehull, slotted ricehull, paper, peat, dairy manure, rice straw, and coconut fiber containers had significantly higher dry shoot weights than plants grown in plastic containers. Dry root weights ranged from 3.0 to 4.0 g. The plants grown in the plastic containers had dry root weights of 3.0 g. Plants grown in paper and wood fiber containers had higher dry root weights than those grown in plastic containers. The only container that negatively affected plant growth was the wood fiber container. Plants preformed the best in solid ricehull, slotted ricehull, and coconut fiber containers based on dry shoot and dry root weights, but all containers were successfully used to produce marketable cyclamen plants.

scholarly journals Biocontainer Water Use in Short-term Greenhouse Crop Production

2013 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 215-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Koeser ◽  
Sarah T. Lovell ◽  
Michael Evans ◽  
J. Ryan Stewart
Keyword(s):  
Water Consumption ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Wood Fiber ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Rice Hull ◽  
Total Water ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Plant Materials ◽  
Promising Alternative ◽  
Total Water Consumption

In recent years, biocontainers have been marketed as sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based containers in the green industry. However, biocontainers constructed with plant materials that are highly porous in nature (e.g., peat, wood fiber, straw) tend to require more frequent irrigation than conventional plastic products. As irrigation water sources become less abundant and more expensive, growers must consider water consumption in any assessment of their economic and environmental viability. This project evaluated plant growth and total water consumption for nine different biocontainers (seven organic alternatives, and two recently developed bioplastic alternatives) and a plastic control used to produce a short-term greenhouse crop, ‘Yellow Madness’ petunia (Petunia ×hybrida). Dry shoot weight and total water consumption differed by container type, with some of the more porous containers (wood fiber, manure, and straw) requiring more water and producing smaller plants by the end of the trial period. Intuitively, the more impervious plastic, bioplastic, and solid rice hull containers required the least irrigation to maintain soil moisture levels, though shoot dry weights varied among this group. Shoot dry weight was highest with the bioplastic sleeve and slotted rice hull containers. However, the latter of these two containers required a greater volume of water to stay above the drying threshold. Findings from this research suggest the new bioplastic sleeve may be a promising alternative to conventional plastic containers given the current production process.

RESPONSE OF LACTATING EWES TO SNOW AS A SOURCE OF WATER

1981 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. A. DEGEN ◽  
B. A. YOUNG
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Total Body Water ◽  
Energy Content ◽  
Water Source ◽  
Feeding Period ◽  
Total Water ◽  
Water Turnover ◽  
Total Body ◽  
Reduced Water

Eight Suffolk-cross ewes, each nursing a ram-lamb, were kept in a snow-covered field and were individually offered 2 kg of dehydrated alfalfa pellets daily. Half the ewes were denied water from the 4th to 14th wk of lactation but had access to snow as a water source (snow ewes), while the others were offered water during the daily feeding period (water ewes). The ewes readily accepted snow as their source of water. The total water turnover of the snow ewes was approximately 35% less than that of the water ewes; however, this reduced water intake did not affect their milk yield, total body water, or hemactocrit. The liveweight and total body solids of the ewes and energy content of the milk were not significantly different in the two groups. The weight gain of the lambs from the two groups of ewes was not significantly different, averaging 118 and 105 g/day for lambs from the water and snow ewes, respectively.

scholarly journals Transepidermal Water Loss after Water Immersion

2021 ◽  
Vol 73 (6) ◽  
pp. 386-390
Author(s):  
Rattanavalai Nitiyarom ◽  
Nampen Siriwat ◽  
Wanee Wisuthsarewong
Keyword(s):  
Healthy Volunteers ◽  
Water Loss ◽  
Water Immersion ◽  
Transepidermal Water Loss ◽  
Total Water ◽  
Previous Period ◽  
Cumulative Percentage ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Males And Females

Objective: To observe changes in transepidermal water loss (TEWL) at different times after water immersion.Materials and Methods: TEWL values were measured before water immersion and at 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 30 minutes after immersion of the skin in water for 5 minutes.Results: Forty-one healthy volunteers were enrolled with an average age of 30.4±5.5 years. Twenty-five subjects were female and sixteen were male. The TEWL value before water immersion (TEWLbaseline) was 13.16±7.27 g/m2/h and TEWL values at 3, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30 minutes after immersion were 23.21±7.67, 16.12±3.42, 14.76±6.36, 14.45±6.67, 13.53±4.67 and 12.96±5.18 g/m2/h, respectively. After immersion, TEWL values at 3 and 5 minutes statistically increased compared to TEWLbaseline (p<0.001). TEWL values between 10 to 30 minutes gradually dropped with no statistically significant difference compared to the previous period and TEWLbaseline. Although total water loss from the skin occurred within 30 minutes, 56.9% of it occurred within 10 minutes after immersion. There was no significant difference between TEWLbaseline in males and females but the TEWL values at 3, 5 and 15 minutes after immersion in males was higher than in females (p<0.05). Conclusion: TEWL statistically increased after water immersion for only 5 minutes. The cumulative percentage of TEWL was high within 10 minutes. Gender did not affect TEWL values before immersion; however, males experienced more water loss from the skin than females after immersion. Therefore, moisturizer should be applied immediately before TEWL occurs.

The effect of respiratory pattern on water loss in desiccation-resistant Drosophila melanogaster.

1998 ◽  
Vol 201 (21) ◽  
pp. 2953-2959 ◽  
Author(s):  
A E Williams ◽  
T J Bradley
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Water Loss ◽  
Loss Rate ◽  
Extended Period ◽  
Peak Height ◽  
Respiratory Pattern ◽  
Water Loss Rate ◽  
Selection For ◽  
Reduced Water ◽  
Co2 Release

We measured CO2 and H2O release from individual fruit flies from five populations of Drosophila melanogaster selected for resistance to desiccation (D flies). Our previous work found that these flies survive for an extended period in dry air, have an increase in the peak height and frequency of CO2 release, as measured by the standard error of a linear regression (SER) of CO2 release for the entire survival period, and have reduced water loss rates (VH2O) compared with their control or ancestor populations. In the present study, we examined the following respiratory characteristics: VCO2, VH2O, the SER of CO2 release and the ratio of VCO2 to VH2O in the D flies. Correlations between these characters were calculated in order to determine the effect of respiratory pattern on water loss. We found that, within the D flies, neither periodic release of CO2 nor an increased SER for CO2 release was associated with reduced water loss. In addition, an increased SER was positively correlated with both an increased water loss rate and a decreased survival time. Therefore, although selection for desiccation resistance leads to both an increased SER and a decreased rate of water loss in the D flies, the increased SER does not significantly reduce respiratory water loss.

scholarly journals Analysis of Economic and Social Costs of Growing Petunia ×hybrida in a Greenhouse Production System Using Alternative Containers

HortScience ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (8) ◽  
pp. 1179-1185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin G. Brumfield ◽  
Laura B. Kenny ◽  
Alyssa J. DeVincentis ◽  
Andrew K. Koeser ◽  
Sven Verlinden ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Consumer Preferences ◽  
Wood Fiber ◽  
Small Variation ◽  
Direct Costs ◽  
Social Costs ◽  
Rice Hull ◽  
Plastic Container ◽  
Greenhouse Production ◽  
Environmentally Sustainable ◽  
Greenhouse Growers

Greenhouse growers find themselves under increasing pressure to respond to consumer preferences to use environmentally sustainable practices and materials while maintaining profitable operations. These consumer preferences reflect a mounting awareness of the environmental issues, such as climate change and their associated social costs. Ideally, sustainable horticultural production accounts for both traditional economic considerations and such social costs, some of which can be explained through the calculation of global warming potential (GWP). An obvious candidate for a sustainable intervention is the traditional plastic pot, which growers can replace with alternative biocontainers with varying degrees of GWP. This study calculates the variability of direct costs of production using alternative containers to offer a comparison of social and economic costs. We evaluated these direct costs of producing petunia (Petunia ×hybrida) grown in pots made of traditional plastic, bioplastic, coir, manure, peat, bioplastic sleeve, slotted rice hull, solid rice hull, straw, wood fiber, and recycled reground plastic containers used in a previous assessment of GWP. Our analysis of the costs when using a traditional plastic pot showed that the highest contributors to GWP were different from the highest contributors to direct costs, revealing that the price does not reflect the environmental impact of several inputs. Electricity, the plastic shuttle tray, and the plastic pot contributed most to GWP, whereas labor, the plastic container, and paclobutrozol growth regulator contributed most to direct cost of production (COP). At 64% of total cost, labor was the most expensive input. Watering by hand added another $0.37–$0.54 per plant in labor. When we analyzed input costs of each alternative container separately, container type had the largest impact on total direct costs. Before adding container costs, the direct COP ranged from $0.56 to $0.61 per plant. After adding containers, costs ranged from $0.61 to $0.97 per plant. Wood fiber pots were the most expensive and recycled reground plastic pots were the least expensive in this study. Based on our assessment and the observed small variation in GWP between alternative containers, growers would benefit from selecting a container based on price and consumer demand. Some social costs that we are not aware of yet may be associated with some or all biocontainers.

Evaluation of seasonality on total water intake, water loss and water balance in the general population in Greece

2013 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
pp. 90-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. Malisova ◽  
V. Bountziouka ◽  
D. Β. Panagiotakos ◽  
A. Zampelas ◽  
M. Kapsokefalou
Keyword(s):  
General Population ◽  
Water Balance ◽  
Water Intake ◽  
Water Loss ◽  
Total Water ◽  
Intake Water ◽  
Total Water Intake
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document