1. Why is watering so important?
Crop quality often depends on plant irrigation. When and the amount of water are important crop quality. We all know the importance of irrigation - it is essential to crop production. Next to light, there is nothing that will destroy your crop faster than over/under watering.
2. What are the effects of underwatering?
When plants are not watered enough, plants wilt, resulting in smaller leaves, shorter stem internodes (the length of the stem between leaves), and a hardened appearance of the plants. In some cases, leaves may begin to burn and spread inward, affecting whole leaves.
3. What are the effects of overwatering?
When water is applied too frequently plants become larger, taller and softer. This is undesirable because plants wilt easily and often do not survive shipping. If the oxygen is cut off the results is damaged root systems.
4. What are the general rules of watering?
There are three main rules of watering:
- Use a well-drained substrate. When the root substrate is drained and aerated, proper watering can be achieved, giving the plant desirable texture and structure.
- Water thoroughly each time. It is important to water all of the substrate each time the water is applied so that the water reaches the roots and produces a healthy plant.
- Water before moisture stress occurs. You should water just before moisture stress occurs. The result is a properly aerated system as well as healthy root development.
5. When should water be tested?
The chemical quantity in the water is crucial to the survival of the plant in the greenhouse. Anytime a new water source is established, it should be tested. During the first two years, you should test the water at least twice a year. It is best to test during a dry period and a wet period. After you have established a water quality pattern, water needs to be tested every couple years.
6. How do I conduct a soluble-salt test?
The soluble-salt test measures all electrically charged ions dissolved in water. The higher the salt content, the more electrical currents are flowing through the sample. High salt levels may be detected by observing wilting of plants during the bright times of the day even when the roots are moist. The overall growth slows and some leaves may show circular spots across the leaf blade.
7. What is alkalinity?
Alkalinity is a measure of carbonate amounts plus bicarbonate in water. Applying alkaline water is similar to applying limestone. An excessive alkalinity level is when the pH of the substrate rises to an unacceptable level at the end of a crop. The three crop situations that have a critical alkalinity level are the length of the crop period, the plant-to-substrate ratio, and the upper substrate pH level.
8. What does hardness measure?
Hardness is a measure of the calcium and magnesium content in water. These two elements should be balanced to prevent calcium or magnesium deficiencies. When there is high alkalinity in water, a hardness test should be done.
9. What types of watering systems are there?
There are several methods and ways to water plants. Generally they fall into three categories: hand watering, fresh-flower watering systems, and containerized-plant watering systems. There are both closed and open systems.
10. What is a closed system?
A closed irrigation system is any method for growing plants in which the nutrient solution is recirculated. Nutrients are not allowed to leach from the pot or bench to the ground.
11. What is an open system?
An open irrigation system is any system for growing plants in which nutrient solution is allowed to pass through the root zone and out into the environment.
12. Why is hand watering uneconomical?
Hand watering is considered uneconomical because it is only used when watering flats or in "spot watering", where some areas of the crop are drier than others. Hand watering is labor inefficient. It becomes expensive when labor wages are paid at an hourly rate and is often left to inexperienced workers who like to speed up the process, leaving the crop under- watered.
13. What are the different fresh-flower watering systems?
The different types of fresh-flower watering systems are perimeter watering and turbulent twin-wall watering. Perimeter watering is a plastic pipe around a perimeter of a bench with nozzles that spray water over the substrate surface below the foliage. The turbulent twin-wall hose system is popular because long lengths of bench can be handled from a single header. They are both open systems.
14. What types of containerized-plant watering systems can be used in a greenhouse?
Containerized-plant watering systems include tube watering, overhead sprinklers, boom watering, flood and float systems, and pulse watering.
15. How does tube watering work?
Tube watering is a standard open system used when automatically watering potted plants. The water is carried to each pot by a thin tube available in various sizes. Each tube must be the same length so that the water flows evenly to all pots.
16. What does overhead sprinkling do?
Overhead sprinklers are used mainly for crops that tolerate wet foliage. Pipes are installed above the plants and nozzles with varying spray ranges are installed to cover all plants.
17. Should I use boom watering?
Boom watering can function as either a closed or an open system used for producing seedlings grown in plug trays. This enables each seedling to grow in an individual cell when watering precision is extremely important. The boom extends from one side of the greenhouse bay to the other, propelled by an electric motor.
18. What is mat watering?
The mat watering system is a closed system. Potted plants are planed on a constantly moist mat that soaks up the nutrients through capillaries. All pots may be placed on a mat and no adjustment is needed when changing pot size.
19. How does a basic flood system operate?
A flood system pumps water or fertilizer into a bench, trough or floor long enough to reach the plant capillaries. The water/fertilizer is then drained and the whole process is repeated after a given amount of time.
20. How do I grow crops using a float system?
In a float system, seedlings are grown on trays that float on a nutrient solution. After a determined amount of time, fertilizer is added until seeds form. The seeds then float on the solution in the trays and water is added when needed allowing the crops to grow.
21. What are the benefits of pulse watering?
Pulse watering is an open system that is used in order to save water from being over-consumed. Water or fertilizer is applied several times during a drying cycle instead of just once at the end of the cycle. However, less fertilizer is applied each time so the concentration is lower.
22. How do I maintain my irrigation system?
A watering system should be cleaned and sterilized; otherwise crops can become contaminated. Depending the types of pipes used in the greenhouse you may be able to take them off and soak them in disinfectant or simple take a sponge soaked in disinfectant and apply it to the pipe and/or nozzles.
23. How can I find out more about irrigation systems?
You can find out more about irrigation systems by contacting the NGMA or visiting the NGMA website.
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