A cost analysis for using recycled irrigation runoff water in container nursery production: a Southern California nursery case study

Pitton, Bruno J.L.; Hall, Charles R.; Haver, Darren; White, Susan W.; Oki, Lorence R.

doi:10.1007/s00271-018-0578-8

Cited by 23 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…The initial investment costs to build recycled water systems can be high, but they are often subsidized by various agencies, which can offset those costs within a few years. For example, a major nursery in California was able to recover the cost of a water recycling system within 1 year based on savings associated with purchasing less water (Pitton et al, 2018). Therefore, more nurseries are capturing and recycling runoff water.…”

Section: Examples Of Water Capture and Recycling In Nurseriesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Irrigating Nursery Crops with Recycled Run-off: A Review of the Potential Impact of Pesticides on Plant Growth and Physiology

Poudyal

Cregg

2019

hortte

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Interest in capturing and reusing runoff from irrigation and rainfall in container nurseries is increasing due to water scarcity and water use regulations. However, grower concerns related to contaminants in runoff water and other issues related to water safety are potential barriers to the adoption of water capture and reuse technologies. In this review, we discuss some of the key concerns associated with potential phytotoxicity from irrigating container nursery crops with recycled runoff. The concentration of pesticides in runoff water and retention ponds is orders of magnitude lower than that of typical crop application rates; therefore, the risk of pesticide phytotoxicity from irrigation with runoff water is relatively low. Nonetheless, some pesticides, particularly certain herbicides and insecticides, can potentially affect crops due to prolonged chronic exposure. Pesticides with high solubility, low organic adsorption coefficients, and long persistence have the greatest potential for crop impact because they are the most likely to be transported with runoff from container pads. The potential impact on plant growth or disruption of physiological processes differs among pesticides and sensitivity of individual crop plants. Growers can reduce risks associated with residual pesticides in recycled irrigation water by adopting best management practices (e.g., managing irrigation to reduce pesticide runoff, reducing pots spacing during pesticide application, use of vegetative filter strips) that reduce the contaminant load reaching containment basins as well as adopting remediation strategies that can reduce pesticide concentrations in recycled water.

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Section: Examples Of Water Capture and Recycling In Nurseriesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Irrigating Nursery Crops with Recycled Run-off: A Review of the Potential Impact of Pesticides on Plant Growth and Physiology

Poudyal

Cregg

2019

hortte

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“…However, discharge can occur if runoff treatment and remediation is performed to prevent water body impairment [13]. If growers are going to invest in the infrastructure required for remediation and treatment, it is logical to reuse this return water for irrigation to reduce cost and reduce the need for other water sources, particularly in a dry climate [14]. The authors noted from their comprehensive cost analysis that capital costs associated with construction of recycled water systems were high, but were offset by rebates from the water provider and a grant from the National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), in this specific case.…”

Section: Recycling Water-real and Perceived Challengesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The authors noted from their comprehensive cost analysis that capital costs associated with construction of recycled water systems were high, but were offset by rebates from the water provider and a grant from the National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), in this specific case. However, subsequent operational costs (e.g., electricity for pumping) are low, which reduces the marginal cost of recycled water in future years [14]. Moreover, this strategy insulates the operation from reduced water availability and/or future price escalations, increasing overall water security.…”

Section: Recycling Water-real and Perceived Challengesmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Comparison of Irrigation-Water Containment Methods and Management Strategies Between Two Ornamental Production Systems to Minimize Water Security Threats

Ristvey

Belayneh

Lea‐Cox

2019

Water

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Water security in ornamental plant production systems is vital for maintaining profitability. Expensive, complicated, or potentially dangerous treatment systems, together with skilled labor, is often necessary to ensure water quality and plant health. Two contrasting commercial ornamental crop production systems in a mesic region are compared, providing insight into the various strategies employed using irrigation-water containment and treatment systems. The first is a greenhouse/outdoor container operation which grows annual ornamental plants throughout the year using irrigation booms, drip emitters, and/or ebb and flow systems depending on the crop, container size, and/or stage of growth. The operation contains and recycles 50–75% of applied water through a system of underground cisterns, using a recycling reservoir and a newly constructed 0.25 ha slow-sand filtration (SSF) unit. Groundwater provides additional water when needed. Water quantity is not a problem in this operation, but disease and water quality issues, including agrochemicals, are of potential concern. The second is a perennial-plant nursery which propagates cuttings and produces field-grown trees and containerized plants. It has a series of containment/recycling reservoirs that capture rainwater and irrigation return water, together with wells of limited output. Water quantity is a more important issue for this nursery, but poor water quality has had some negative economic effects. Irrigation return water is filtered and sanitized with chlorine gas before being applied to plants via overhead and micro-irrigation systems. The agrochemical paclobutrazol was monitored for one year in the first operation and plant pathogens were qualified and quantified over two seasons for both production systems. The two operations employ very different water treatment systems based on their access to water, growing methods, land topography, and capital investment. Each operation has experienced different water quantity and quality vulnerabilities, and has addressed these threats using a variety of technologies and management techniques to reduce their impacts.

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“…Concerns regarding the level of contamination present in runoff water can be mitigated through using best management practices (BMPs), such as installing buffer zones and improving water/ chemical application practices; however, additional treatments to remove pesticide residues may be necessary before environmental discharge or use as recycled irrigation water (Grant et al, 2019;Lu et al, 2006). The implementation of treatment systems to address agrochemical content in runoff water requires a financial investment in an associated infrastructure, encouraging the use of these systems for recycling irrigation water to capitalize on the investment (Pitton et al, 2018).…”

Section: Runoff Generationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reducing Water and Pesticide Movement in Nursery Production

Abdi¹,

Fernandez²

2019

hortte

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Ornamental nurseries produce a large number of plants in a concentrated area, and aesthetics are a key component of the product. To produce crops in this manner, high inputs of water, nutrients, and pesticides are typically used. Container nursery production further increases the inputs, especially water, because container substrates are designed to quickly drain, and the most effective method of irrigating large numbers of plants in containers (up to a certain size) is the use of overhead irrigation. Because irrigation and pesticides are broadcast over the crop, and because the crop is limited to the container, a large proportion of water or pesticides may land on nontarget areas, creating runoff contaminant issues. Water is the primary means of pesticide movement in nursery production. This review discusses water and pesticide dynamics and management strategies to conserve water and reduce pesticide and water movement during container nursery production.

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A cost analysis for using recycled irrigation runoff water in container nursery production: a Southern California nursery case study

Cited by 23 publications

References 8 publications

Irrigating Nursery Crops with Recycled Run-off: A Review of the Potential Impact of Pesticides on Plant Growth and Physiology

Irrigating Nursery Crops with Recycled Run-off: A Review of the Potential Impact of Pesticides on Plant Growth and Physiology

A Comparison of Irrigation-Water Containment Methods and Management Strategies Between Two Ornamental Production Systems to Minimize Water Security Threats

Reducing Water and Pesticide Movement in Nursery Production

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