Economic Feasibility of Micro-Irrigating Container-Grown Landscape Plants

Abstract

Abstract While past research has examined certain technical efficiencies, little effort has been directed at the economic feasibility of various irrigation systems for container-grown landscape plants. Two irrigation systems, cyclic micro-irrigation and overhead impact sprinkler, were examined to determine economic advantages of one system over the other for container-grown landscape plants. Seedlings of Acer rubrum L. and Quercus virginiana Mill. produced in #3, #7, #10 and #15 (10.2, 26.5, 37.8, and 56.8 liter) polyethylene containers were considered. A two-step methodology was used to establish the biological and economic parameters of the study. Three major conclusions were arrived at in this paper. First, with the exception of the smallest container size, there was little difference in initial investment costs and variable costs of production between the two systems. Second, water costs were shown to be prohibitive for larger container sizes when reclaimed water is used in conjunction with overhead systems. Third, the potential impact of cyclic microirrigation on a firm's economic returns were shown to be positive. Cyclic micro-irrigation markedly speeds up the production process, utilizes less material inputs and a fraction of the water of an overhead system.