Development and Demonstration of Low-Cost, Easy-to-Manage Zero Runoff Systems for Small-Sized Pot Plant Growers Progress Report — December 1994
Date December 13, 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 1-1-94 to 8-30-95
Anticipated Date of Project Completion/Final Report August 30, 1995
Individual(s) Conducting Project:
(List Project Leader First)
Thomas C. Weiler - Title Professor
TelephoneNumber (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 delivery systems willbe 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’s and Ricardo Valdez’s completed theses were submitted to the Endowment.The Alleman thesis compared zero runoff water and nutrient delivery systems for
- 1.) quality of crop produced,
- 2.) cost of installation and maintenance,
- 3.) efficient use water and fertilizer resources, and
- 4.) ease of management.
- All systems (subirrigated troughs, ebb-and-flow benches, and capillary mats)conserved water and fertilizer compared to the top-down, leached system. All zero runoff growing
system could be managed to produce crops of acceptable quality. Choice for adoption would depend on
operation goals related to mechanization, tolerable levels of maintenance, access to capital, and expected
return on investment. The Valdez thesis explored incorporating all of the crop’s requirement for fertilizer
into the substrate before planting. Soluble and controlled release fertilizers were used, and fertilizer rates
were limited to those needed by the crop. Plants were subirrigated with tap water only. Rates of growth
and crop quality with this approach were comparable to the top-down, leached system. Transient
chlorosis and other symptoms of nutrient deficiency/excess were noted, but no differences in growth were
observed. This fall, we and one cooperator in Central New York grew poinsettias on zero runoff
systems. As transient symptoms of nutrient deficiency developed, plants and substrate were analyzed and
minor fertilizer supplements were made to the crop. The extra fertilizer required will be added the basic
before-planting fertilizer formulation for the spring geranium crop. The cooperating greenhouse
operation grew a zero runoff poinsettia crop comparable to the crop on his top-down, leached system.
- 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.
Emphasis on demonstrations in commercial operations this spring are expected to build confidence
among greenhouse operators that the industry can move toward zero runoff configurations with modest
capital inputs and technical training.
- D. Future Plans Covered by the Endowment Grant:
- A number of other cooperators will be brought into demonstration project with the springgeranium crop. These regional projects will be coordinated by Cooperative Extension field staff agents
and IPM scouts. Best treatments will be emphasized. Growers’ perspective will be sought, and the
systems will be explained to growers in technology transfer workshops.
- E. Anticipated Benefits for Floral Industry:
- Quality irrigation water is a shrinking resource that can be costly to obtain andfertilizer 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 most economical, least risky, and least complicated growing option
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.
