Creating a Protected Diffusion Zone

Abstract

<jats:p>In intensive, open horticultural crop production systems, quantities of water and soluble fertilizers are convected by gravitational and evaporative flow through the plant root zone, with only a small fraction being captured by the plant root system. Principles and concepts developed in creating a protected diffusion zone (PDZ) within the closed, insulated pallet system (CIPS) have been extrapolated to create a protected zone for fertilizer diffusion in a surface-irrigated plant container or open field/landscape planting. Incorporating additional evaporative and gravitational water flow barriers has resulted in a semiclosed field system to minimize quantities of water and fertilizer applied and lost from the plant root zone. Use of saline water is more feasible in PDZ system than in open systems.</jats:p>