Abstract
Capillary irrigation systems have been investigated for some years as a means to deliver water to plants in container gardening. This review paper identifies that traditional capillary irrigation systems such as capillary wicks, capillary mats, and ebb and flow systems have been shown to produce higher crop yields and use less water than conventional irrigation methods. In addition, capillary irrigation offers an added advantage by reducing the volume of potentially harmful leachate into surrounding soil environments. However, these systems are basically limited to small pot sizes and are widely used for growing ornamental and nursery plants in glasshouse conditions. Further, the cost and complexity of Negative Pressure Difference Irrigation may have limited its practical use. Conversely, wicking beds (WBs) are low-tech and water-efficient systems which can be used for growing plants with different rooting depths. Irrespective of the wide acceptance of WBs among the growing community, this review recognises that there is no published research providing design recommendations for WBs and their expected performance relative to other irrigation systems. Therefore, some potential advantages of WBs are noted in the context of capillary irrigation research; however, a substantial knowledge gap exists relating to the optimised design and use of WBs.
Highlights
Capillary irrigation is a form of subirrigation which uses the capillary action of a medium to deliver water to a plant from a water source at or below the base of the growing bed
Closed-cycle capillary irrigation is a promising technology for growing crops with minimal environmental impact; application of capillary-based subirrigation systems in small-scale commercial agriculture for growing fruits and vegetables in outdoor conditions has been limited [3]
The current study demonstrates, for the first time, the application of this systematic review approach to scientific literature related to capillary irrigation systems
Summary
Capillary irrigation is a form of subirrigation which uses the capillary action of a medium to deliver water to a plant from a water source at or below the base of the growing bed. Container-based subirrigated systems such as capillary mats, ebb and flow systems, capillary wicks, and subirrigated planters (SIPs) are all irrigation systems that depend on capillary action. These systems have been widely recommended in literature and guideline documents [1,2] as they can grow healthy plants and flowers while reducing environmental impact, water demand, and irrigation effort. Closed-cycle capillary irrigation is a promising technology for growing crops with minimal environmental impact; application of capillary-based subirrigation systems in small-scale commercial agriculture for growing fruits and vegetables in outdoor conditions has been limited [3]. The main focus of this review was to identify: (i) the most common capillary irrigation systems; (ii) the performance of capillary irrigation systems in relation to other best-practice irrigation systems; and (iii) the documented benefits, limitations, and opportunities in capillary irrigation for future use and research
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