New irrigation-plant production system for water conservation in ornamental nurseries.

摘要

The objectives of this study were to quantify and analyze the performance of the black and white Multi-Pot Box Systems (MPBS) in regard to efficient use of irrigation and rain water and growth of Viburnum odoratissimum (Ker-Gawl) and compare the results with the performance of the conventional system (CS) for the summer and fall growing seasons under north-central Florida climate conditions. The substrate temperature (ST) in all systems were also evaluated. Models were developed to predict maximum and minimum root-zone temperatures (RZT) in the center of the containers placed in the MPBSs and CS.;Results showed that in both growing seasons, plants grown in the white MPBS had significantly higher root and stem dry weights, growth index (GI), and growth rates compared to the plants grown in the black MPBS and CS. Plants in the white MPBS reached marketable size approximately 17 days and 86 days earlier (in the summer season) and 25 and 115 days earlier (in the fall season) than the plants grown in the black MPBS and CS, respectively. Results indicated that the MPBSs were very successful with regard to efficient use of irrigation and rainfall for Viburnum odoratissimum. Significant portions of the total rainfall were captured in the reservoir of the MPBSs during both growing seasons and later contributed to the plants increasing rainfall effectiveness and irrigation water use efficiency.;The seasonal irrigation water use efficiency (SIWUE) was significantly higher for the plants grown in the white MPBS compared to the plants in the black MPBS and CS. The irrigation efficiency (IE) values for the white and black MPBS treatments were higher than 100% whereas it was only 19% in the summer and 15% in the fall season for the CS. At least 75% of water saving was achieved by using MPBS. However, in both seasons, the white MPBS treatments resulted in higher water savings compared to the black MPBS.;The white MPBS provided more optimum growing media in terms of modifying extreme (hot and cold) ambient air temperatures in both seasons. Using the maximum and minimum air temperature and/or solar radiation as inputs, the models developed in this study were able to predict at least 74% and 90% of the variability of the max and min RZT, respectively.;Results suggest the potential of MPBS for efficient use of water resources for container-grown ornamental plants. Results also suggest that under these experimental and climatic conditions, the white MPBS is superior to the black one and should be the first choice for growing Viburnum odoratissimum .