Water Conservation Team in Ornamental Crops through the Use of Alternative Irrigation Water Sources

Abstract

Significance and objectives Many communities in Texas and other states are facing water shortages and water quality issues (poor or marginal water quality). A tremendous population growth in many southern states is also putting a strain on their water supplies and creating a worrisome competition between urban and agricultural activities. Future drought is unpredictable, and some regions have encountered extended and devastating drought periods in the past years. In addition, intensive agricultural operations like nurseries and greenhouses are under pressure to conserve water and minimize fertilizerand chemical-laden water drainages and runoff effluents (Briggs et al., 1998; Cabrera, 2005; Camper et al., 1994). Water availability and water quality issues are getting worse over time and are significantly affecting the future of green industries (greenhouse, nursery, landscape). Water conservation can be achieved by irrigating greenhouse and nursery crops, and landscape plantings with alternative water sources, thus saving the dwindling clean/fresh water for other purposes. Low-maintenance plant species that are drought and salt tolerant would be desirable for green industry. The types of available alternative or nonpotable water sources vary with regions. Reclaimed municipal water is often the main alternative water. In some places, saline groundwater and agricultural drainage water are available. The salinity of reclaimed water measured as electrical conductivity (ECw), which varies with water source and treatment processes, ranges from 1.0 to 1.9 dS m (Schuch, 2005; Wu et al., 2001). To successfully use these alternative water sources, information on salt tolerance of economically important ornamental plants and their salinity thresholds are needed.