Abstract
Plants of Ruscus aculeatus, known as “butcher’s broom”, Maytenus senegalensis, known as “confetti tree”, and Juncus acutus, known as “spiny rush” were grown in pots with a mixture of sphagnum peat-moss and Perlite in order to determine the effect and evolution over time of three water use systems on plant growth, water saving and nutrient uptake. These were an open system (irrigated with standard nutrient solution) and two closed systems (blended-water (drainage water blended with water of low electrical conductivity (EC)) and sequential reuse of drainage (sequential-reuse) water), over a period of 8 weeks. Irrigation with blended- and sequential-reuse-water increased the biomass of all three species at the end of the experiment, compared to the open system. Overall, sequential-reuse-water treatment maximised biomass production. The application of blended- and sequential-reuse-water allowed savings of 17% of water in comparison to the open system. Regarding Cl, NO3− and H2PO4− loads, there was a removal of 5%, 32% and 32%; respectively in the blended-water treatment and 15%, 17% and 17% in the sequential-reuse water treatment compared to the open system. For the cation loads (Na+, K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+) in these water treatments there was a removal of 10%, 32%, 7% and 18% respectively in the blended-water treatment, and 17%, 22%, 17% and 18% respectively in the sequential-reuse treatment, compared to the open system.
Highlights
Growing plants in greenhouses can result in excessive leaching of nutrients from containerized crops grown in soilless substrate if irrigation is not managed properly [1]
Data used for the model and its calibration were collected during the first experiment in the spring of 2013 and the validation of the model was carried out in the spring of 2014
From the results obtained in these experiments, we defined the following equations in order to determine the number of plants needed in each stage of the different drainage water treatments (1)
Summary
Growing plants in greenhouses can result in excessive leaching of nutrients from containerized crops grown in soilless substrate if irrigation is not managed properly [1]. The drainage water frequently contains high concentrations of nitrates, phosphorus and potassium [2]. The drainage shows an increase of electrical conductivity due to the accumulation of Na+ and. Cl− where the original source of water contains these elements, even in low concentrations [5]. The drainage from irrigation of one species could be used to irrigate other species in a sequential process, providing the other crops being irrigated are suitably salt tolerant [6]; the drainage water could be used directly, or by blending it with the primary source of water available for the greenhouse operation. The net volume of water used may be substantially reduced by the capture and reuse of drainage water on farms or in greenhouses. The volume of high quality (low conductivity) water
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
