Location: Citrus and Other Subtropical Products Research
Project Number: 6034-22000-043-014-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Jul 1, 2016
End Date: Jun 30, 2021
Objective:
The objectives of this cooperative research project are: 1. to determine the nutrient, chemical, pathological, and agrochemical composition and characteristics of degraded water resources for irrigation; 2. to determine the effects of degraded water resources used for irrigation on floricultural and nursery crop growth and physiology; and 3. to develop methods and protocols for safely using degraded water resources (high saline, high alkalinity, recycled, gray, and reclaimed water) for irrigation in the production of floricultural and nursery crops.
Approach:
Studies will investigate the suitability of selected degraded water sources for irrigation of horticultural crops, determining ion, chemical and agrochemical properties that may be deleterious for irrigation use for the production of horticultural crops. Additionally, floricultural and nursery crops will be grown in the various water sources to determine effects on plant growth and physiology, and means to improve water quality for irrigation use will be explored. These studies will be completed in outdoors under simulated nursery conditions and verified at nursery sites. Some of the initial fundamental experiments will require laboratory or greenhouse experimentation necessary for controlling input variables.
