Development and Demonstration of Low-Cost, Easy-to-Manage Zero Runoff Systems for Small-Sized Pot Plant Growers Progress Report — September 1994
Date August 18, 1994
Title of Project Development and Demonstration of Low-Cost, Easy-to-Manage Zero
Runoff Systems for Small-sized Pot Plant Operations
Institution where work is being conducted Cornell University
Amount of Endowment Grant $4,500
Covering Period 9-1-93 to 8-30-94
Anticipated Date of Project Completion/Final Report June 1, 1995
Individual(s) Conducting Project:
(List Project Leader First)
Thomas C. Weiler - Title Professor
Telephone Number (607)255-2166, fax-9998
Development and Demonstration of Low-Cost, Easy-to-Manage Zero Runoff Systems for Small-sized Pot Plant Operations
Thomas C. Weiler
Cornell University
- A. Project Objectives:
- Inexpensive, simple-to-manage zero runoff fertilizer and water deliverysystems will be developed and demonstrated to provide greenhouse operators with little capital
and technical background options to minimize surface and ground water contamination by
agricultural chemicals.
- B. Summary of Work Conducted:
- Dawn Alleman and Ricardo Valdez completed their theses recently (August). Zerorunoff water and nutrient delivery systems were compared for quality of crop produced, cost of
installation and maintenance, efficient use water and fertilizer resources, and ease of management.
Plant size (dry weight) was not significantly different among the systems studied. When fertilizer
solution was applied through traditional drip tube systems with leaching, plants were darker green
when compared to crops on other systems, but potential loss of fertilizer to surface and ground
water was high. Plant nutrient content, especially nitrogen, was consistently low in subirrigated
plants. Zero runoff systems required about one-half of the irrigation solution required of leached
systems. Zero runoff flat benches outfitted with a capillary mat were least expensive to install
since no recirculation system was required, when compared to trough and ebb-and-flow systems.
Plastic-covered capillary mat, ebb-and-flow, and trough systems conserved water most over the
poinsettia or geranium production cycle. Incorporating soluble and controlled release fertilizers
into the substrate before planting, limiting fertilizer rates to those needed by the crop, and
subirrigating with only tap water minimized the need to collect runoff as a means of conserving
surface and ground water quality.
- C. Results to Date:
- Results of these studies confirmed the feasibility of inexpensivelyintegrating environmental stewardship goals into pot crop production systems by eliminating
leaching of irrigation solution which is the carrier of agricultural chemicals to surface and ground
water. The results also showed that risk of crop loss from nutrient excesses or deficiencies can be
minimized by limiting application of fertilizer to essential amounts and combining soluble and
controlled release sources.
- D. Future Plans Covered by the Endowment Grant:
- Best treatments will be demonstrated in greenhouse operations this winter and nextspring. The purpose of these demonstration projects is to obtain growers’ perspective about how
successful the systems (cost, ease of operation, crop quality) and what improvements might be
added. Finally, updated systems will be explained to growers in technology transfer workshops.
- E. Anticipated Benefits for FloralIndustry:
- Quality irrigation water is a shrinking resource that can be costly to obtainand fertilizer is a cost of production that often can be better managed. In addition, public policy is
rapidly developing related to protection of soil, surface water, and ground water resources.
Commitment to zero runoff production systems may be the least expensive and complicated
solution for many operations. Inexpensive, simple to operate systems involving subirrigation and
a combination of soluble and controlled release Fertilizer sources offer a cost effective approach to
managing production costs as well as meeting environmental stewardship goals.
