Identifying Opportunities to Promote Water Conservation Practices among Nursery and Greenhouse Growers

Abstract

<jats:p>Nursery and greenhouse growers have an important role to play in conserving water resources. Many technologies are available to help growers conserve water. Yet, within the industry, there may be varying levels of knowledge about a specific strategy, along with inconsistent adoption and continued use. An understanding of these factors can be incorporated into educational programming for this audience. This study evaluated the reported knowledge level of U.S. greenhouse and nursery growers about eight specific water conservation technologies and then explored the rate at which growers had adopted and continued or discontinued their use. Technologies were ranked from high to low adoption rate, beginning with drip irrigation, rainwater capture, water reuse, and microirrigation, followed by soil moisture sensors, climate-based irrigation, subirrigation, and finally an irrigation audit. Overall, greater levels of knowledge corresponded to both greater adoption and continued use of a technology. Other factors, such as economic cost and technical feasibility are undoubtedly important. Findings highlight an opportunity to focus educational programs on the systems-based strategies that are beneficial to growers, but growers are least knowledgeable about to increase adoption of effective water conservation methods that currently have low levels of grower implementation.</jats:p>

Social and Economic Aspects of Water Use in Specialty Crop Production in the USA: A Review

“…It is important to understand grower perceptions and attitudes in order to encourage proactive engagement in pro-environmental practices, because behavior change is complex. Current research suggests cognitive indicators, contextual considerations, and multivariate influences focused on factors that relate to risk/gain, culture/demographics, values/beliefs, and specific knowledge all need to be considered in the decision-making process related to emergent technologies and best management practices [12,[17][18][19]. Rogers [15] identified specific characteristics of innovations that can make implementation more attractive.…”

“…Following a quantitative multi-criteria decision analysis with nursery and greenhouse growers where cognitive factors as well as adoption characteristics were studied using structural education modeling and a series of linear and logistic regression data analysis, Warner et al [18] reported that more than half of all growers who had implemented one of eight specific conservation technologies continued to use them, highlighting the educational importance of providing support for initial implementation and continued use. Extension and other professionals can increase the likelihood of adoption by showing growers how new technologies are compatible with their existing systems while emphasizing ease of implementation, financial benefits, and decreased production risk to the operation [21].…”

“…The projected variables to be included in the sensitivity analysis include total investment costs, total labor costs, product prices and the useful life of equipment used in irrigation activities. Growers are more likely to implement technologies or practices that are able to save water, are economically beneficial, and have a positive environmental impact (in terms of ecosystem services provided) [12,18].…”

Meeting U.S. Nursery and Greenhouse Growers’ Needs with Water Conservation Extension Programs

“…Water technologies still in use by US nursery and greenhouse growers. Adapted from Warner et al (2018). Percentages correspond to those technologies growers indicated they had adopted in the past and continued to use.…”

Developing a Water-stress Index for Potted Poinsettia Production

“…Sensor-based control systems can optimize irrigation schedules by triggering irrigation systems to replace the water transpired and evaporated from the storage zone (Lichtenberg et al, 2014; while minimizing excessive leaching (Warner et al, 2018), improving flower yield and quality (Oki et al, 2001). By pairing sensors that monitor the environment with sensors that continuously monitor plant transpiration, we can determine how the volume of water required for plant growth fluctuates with environmental and physiological demand (Wheeler et al, 2019).…”