Lecture # 11Lecture # 11Water Quality -Water Quality -
Irrigation Irrigation PracticesPractices
Watering: No Simple MatterWatering: No Simple Matter
Water source.Water source. Water within the growing medium.Water within the growing medium. Water uptake and use by the plant. Water uptake and use by the plant. Water stress. Water stress. Watering methods.Watering methods. Water: amount and frequency.Water: amount and frequency.
TRANSPIRATIONTRANSPIRATION
IRRIGATIONIRRIGATION EVAPORATIONEVAPORATION
DRAINAGEDRAINAGE
What Happens to Water Applied What Happens to Water Applied to Soil in Container with Foliage to Soil in Container with Foliage
Plant Growing:Plant Growing:
* Excess over soil holding capacity drains away.* Excess over soil holding capacity drains away.
* Of the water retained by the soil:* Of the water retained by the soil:
- a portion is used for plant growth;- a portion is used for plant growth; - a portion is used to keep the plant turgid; - a portion is used to keep the plant turgid; - a portion is transpired; - a portion is transpired; - a portion evaporates from the soil, container wall; - a portion evaporates from the soil, container wall; - a portion remains in the soil. - a portion remains in the soil.
The Water SourceThe Water Source
The three most important The three most important factors offactors of
water quality are:water quality are:
total salt content, alkalinity and total salt content, alkalinity and pH. pH.
Hard waterHard water - water that has relatively high - water that has relatively highconcentrations of calcium, magnesium or concentrations of calcium, magnesium or otherotherminerals.minerals.
TreatmentTreatment - water softener which - water softener which substitutessubstitutessodium for the minerals contributing to the sodium for the minerals contributing to the original hardness.original hardness.
ProblemProblem - soil sodium levels and soluble - soil sodium levels and soluble salts.salts.
The Water SourceThe Water Source
Improving Water QualityImproving Water Quality
Filtration.Filtration.
Osmotic exchange.Osmotic exchange.
DistillationDistillation..
The Elemental Content and The Elemental Content and Chemical Properties of Water Suited Chemical Properties of Water Suited
for Use on Indoor Plantsfor Use on Indoor Plants Electrical Conductivity - < 1.0Electrical Conductivity - < 1.0 millimhos/cmmillimhos/cm Total Soluble Salts - < 525 Total Soluble Salts - < 525 ppmppm % of Salts as Sodium - < 40 % of Salts as Sodium - < 40 %% Sodium Absorption Ratio - < Sodium Absorption Ratio - < 1010
ppH - 5.5 to 7.0H - 5.5 to 7.0 Alkalinity - < 100 Alkalinity - < 100 ppmppm Sulfates - < 240 ppmSulfates - < 240 ppm Nitrates - < 50 ppmNitrates - < 50 ppm
The Elemental Content and Chemical The Elemental Content and Chemical Properties of Water Suited for Use on Properties of Water Suited for Use on
Indoor PlantsIndoor Plants
Maximum ElementalMaximum Elemental Concentrations in Concentrations in
ppm ppm
Phosphorus - 5Phosphorus - 5Potassium - 10Potassium - 10Calcium - 75Calcium - 75Manganese - 2Manganese - 2Iron - 5Iron - 5Boron - < 0.8Boron - < 0.8
Copper - 0.2Copper - 0.2Zinc - 5Zinc - 5Sodium - 50Sodium - 50Aluminum - 5Aluminum - 5Molybdenum - 0.02Molybdenum - 0.02Chloride - 140Chloride - 140Fluoride < 1.0Fluoride < 1.0
Watering: No Simple MatterWatering: No Simple Matter
Water source.Water source. Water within the growing medium.Water within the growing medium. Water uptake and use by the plant.Water uptake and use by the plant. Water stress.Water stress. Watering methods.Watering methods. Water: amount and frequency.Water: amount and frequency.
Water AvailabilityWater Availability
• Matrix SuctionMatrix Suction• Osmotic SuctionOsmotic Suction
Soil particle
Air
Water
Air
PlanPlant t
rootroot
Root hairRoot hair
Average container soil mix - wet soil Average container soil mix - wet soil
following irrigation applied at one following irrigation applied at one spotspot
initial initial wetting wetting pattern pattern
final final wetting wetting patternpattern
dry soildry soilwet soilwet soil
Water Within the Growing MediumWater Within the Growing Medium
stale air stale air bubbles to bubbles to
surfacesurface
as water drains, as water drains, suction draws in suction draws in
fresh, oxygenated fresh, oxygenated airair
old air (and) salts old air (and) salts forced out of forced out of
drainage holesdrainage holes
soil at field soil at field capacitycapacity
saturated saturated zonezone
dry zonedry zone
Coping with soil shrinkage caused Coping with soil shrinkage caused by extreme soil drynessby extreme soil dryness
• multiple wateringsmultiple waterings• wetting agentswetting agents• mist - devicesmist - devices
Cohesion - Adhesion - Tension Cohesion - Adhesion - Tension MechanismMechanism
transpirationtranspiration
water column moves up water column moves up through the plant as through the plant as
transpirational water is transpirational water is lostlost
water absorption into rootwater absorption into root
root hairsroot hairs
root caproot capapical meristemapical meristem
maturation maturation zonezone
elongation elongation zonezone
meristematic meristematic zonezonemucigel sheathmucigel sheath
cortexcortexepidermisepidermis
endodermisendodermispericyclepericycle
phloemphloemxylemxylem
root hair
endodermis
intercellular space
Casparian strip
epidermis
pericycle
cortex
phloemxylem
PATHWAY APATHWAY B
PATHWAY APATHWAY A
PATHWAY BPATHWAY B
Water moves by osmosis through cellular Water moves by osmosis through cellular membranes and living cells; solutes move mainly membranes and living cells; solutes move mainly
by active transport.by active transport.
Water flows through cell walls and intercellular Water flows through cell walls and intercellular spaces; solutes move with the flow or by diffusion.spaces; solutes move with the flow or by diffusion.
epidermisepidermis
endodermisendodermis
root hairroot hair
rootrootexternal mycelliumexternal mycellium
arbusclearbusclevesiclevesicle
cortexcortex
Vesicular - Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Vesicular - Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (VAM) Fungi(VAM) Fungi
Watering: No Simple MatterWatering: No Simple Matter
Water source.Water source. Water within the growing medium.Water within the growing medium. Water uptake and use by the plant.Water uptake and use by the plant. Water stress.Water stress. Watering methods.Watering methods. Water: amount and frequency.Water: amount and frequency.
Water - Related Plant StressWater - Related Plant Stress
Poor aeration of roots.Poor aeration of roots.
Salt stress.Salt stress.
Underwatering.Underwatering.
Temperature - related water stress.Temperature - related water stress.
Wetting AgentsWetting Agents
Chemicals that increase Chemicals that increase the movement of water.the movement of water.
FUNCTIONS :FUNCTIONS : facilitate percolation. facilitate percolation. enhance drainage. enhance drainage. rewetting.rewetting.
Watering: No Simple MatterWatering: No Simple Matter
Water source.Water source. Water within the growing medium.Water within the growing medium. Water uptake and use by the plant.Water uptake and use by the plant. Water stress.Water stress. Watering methods.Watering methods. Water: amount and frequency.Water: amount and frequency.
Watering: When and How Much?
Determining the need to water by turgor by touch by weight a visual check technology time
Proper Methods of WateringProper Methods of Watering
Best watering imitates a good rain.Best watering imitates a good rain.
Drench the soil without erosion, bringingDrench the soil without erosion, bringing soil to field capacity.soil to field capacity.
Hose and breaker.Hose and breaker.
Self-watering containers.Self-watering containers.
Drip irrigation system.Drip irrigation system.
Mona Link.Mona Link.
Proper Methods of WateringProper Methods of Watering
Watering from Above vs. BelowWatering from Above vs. Below
Above
Below
Water applied from above should:Water applied from above should:
Avoid foliage. Why? Always?Avoid foliage. Why? Always? Remove dust.Remove dust.
Capillary action draws water into soil.Capillary action draws water into soil. Prevents soil compaction.Prevents soil compaction. Soil saturation.Soil saturation.
Wick SystemWick System
water water intake and intake and ventilation ventilation
slotslot
planting planting mediummedium
air air circulationcirculation
capillary capillary actionaction
water water reservoirreservoir
mulchmulch
potpot
wickwick
plant rootsplant roots
Fabric Wick SystemFabric Wick Systemwatertight watertight decorative decorative containercontainer
Water Disc UnitWater Disc Unit
grow potgrow pot
capillary capillary actionaction
capillary capillary wickwick
planting planting mediummedium
fill tubefill tube
foam foam collarcollar
voidvoid
reservoirreservoir
mulchmulch
Subirrigation in a Non-Watertight Subirrigation in a Non-Watertight ContainerContainer
capillary capillary actionaction
capillary capillary wickwick
fill tubefill tube
wicker basket wicker basket planter with planter with
linerliner
reservoirreservoir
mulchmulch
Subirrigation in a Non-Watertight Subirrigation in a Non-Watertight ContainerContainer
capillary capillary actionaction
subirrigation subirrigation containercontainer
water intake water intake tubetube
aeration and aeration and grainage grainage
holesholes
water- water- fertilizer fertilizer reservoirreservoir
mulchmulch
non-watertightnon-watertightdecorative decorative containercontainer
capillary column capillary column contains Perlite contains Perlite
impermeable impermeable saucer saucer
Water Intake TubeWater Intake Tube
Camouflage?Camouflage?
Capillary Leg SystemCapillary Leg System
watertight watertight decorative decorative containercontainer
insert insert platform platform
with with aeration aeration
ventsvents
Capillary legCapillary leg
planting planting mediummedium
planting planting medium medium
wickwick
fill tubefill tube
water water level level
indicatorindicator
mulchmulch
capillary capillary actionaction
reservoirreservoir
Capillary TapeCapillary Tape
water intake water intake tube and tube and
ventilation ventilation slotslot
planting planting mediummedium
water water indicatorindicator
clear clear indicator indicator
casecaseair air circulationcirculation
capillary capillary tapetape
water water reservoirreservoir
inner potinner pot
outer potouter pot
floatfloat
castorscastors
capillary capillary actionaction
Vacuum Sensor SystemVacuum Sensor System
water intake water intake tube and tube and
ventilation ventilation slotslot
sensor sensor controls controls
watering; watering;watering watering action action
starts when starts when sensor is sensor is
dry,dry,stops when stops when
it it is moistis moist
water enters slowly through water enters slowly through inlet when activated by sensorinlet when activated by sensor
water is water is pulled up pulled up through through soil by soil by
capillary capillary actionaction
water water reservoirreservoir
Hydroponic Plant SystemHydroponic Plant System
inner inner support support mediummedium
water level water level gauge gauge
decorative decorative containercontainer
special special inner inner
containercontainer
moisture moisture diffusion diffusion
areaarea
nutrient nutrient solutionsolution
The Mona - LinkThe Mona - Link
Fill tubeFill tubeEnd capEnd cap
Link Link reservoirreservoir
Link Link connecting connecting
tubetube
The Mona-Link is used to subirrigate The Mona-Link is used to subirrigate garden-style plants beds by garden-style plants beds by
interconnecting interconnecting units in whatever configurations are units in whatever configurations are necessary to provide even moisture necessary to provide even moisture
applications.applications.
Application of Mona - Link to Planter Application of Mona - Link to Planter Beds with Changing TopographyBeds with Changing Topography
Complete Automation of Garden - Style Complete Automation of Garden - Style Subirrigation SystemSubirrigation System
shallow-rooted shallow-rooted plantsplants
deep-rooted deep-rooted plantplant
water water supply supply
controlled controlled by by
sensor or sensor or time time clockclock
Components of Drip Irrigation System
PVC supply linePVC supply line
controllercontroller
strainerstrainer
preset pressure preset pressure regulatorregulator
multiple outletmultiple outlet
distribution feeder distribution feeder tubingtubing
Capillary Leg System for JardiniersCapillary Leg System for Jardiniers
watertight watertight decorative decorative containercontainer capillary column capillary column
contains Perlite contains Perlite
planting planting mediummedium
foam foam collarcollar
subirrigation subirrigation containercontainer
water water intake tubeintake tube
aeration aeration and and
grainage grainage holesholes
water- water- fertilizer fertilizer reservoirreservoir
mulchmulch
voidvoid capillary capillary actionaction
Where Does the Where Does the Water Come Water Come
From?From?
Hose BibHose Bib
Box Box HydrantHydrant
Water Management: When and How to Apply
Water
CONSIDERATIONS:CONSIDERATIONS:
* Plant type.* Plant type.* Plant size.* Plant size.* Container volume.* Container volume.* Soil moisture.* Soil moisture.* Indoor environment.* Indoor environment.