Analysis of Irrigation Water Use Efficiency in
Semiarid Greenhouse
Shingo Yokoi, Chiba
University, Japan, and Chieri Kubota, PLS, CEAC
Greenhouse has been known as a plant
production system that can potentially enhance efficiency of water use by
creating microclimate to enhance plant photosynthesis and to suppress
excessive evapotranspiration. The water use efficiency (water use by
irrigation per kilogram yield) is reportedly 4 to 6 times that in the
field (e.g., Stanghellini, 2004). However, more detailed information
specific to the semiarid greenhouse is needed, such as seasonal and annual
cumulative use of water for irrigation per unit area or seasonal and
diurnal changes of irrigation water use as affected by crop cycles,
irrigation system (with or without nutrient recycling), environmental
conditions inside the greenhouse (net radiation, air temperature, air
velocity and vapor pressure deficit), nutrient solution EC, and irrigation
frequency. Crop production in semiarid climate regions has been
recognized as having a high potential due to its high photosynthetically
active radiation throughout the year. However, utilization of
semiarid area to intensive crop production is still limited due to the
difficulty to control temperature while reducing resource
consumption. Limitation of knowledge on greenhouse climate and water
use under semiarid climate prevents wider application in semiarid areas
for intensive but sustainable crop production. The results are
expected to contribute to developing technologies for efficient food
production in the Southwestern US and Mexico, where water resource and
sustainable production are critical issues.
Collaborators:
Patricia Rorabaugh, PLS
Completed
2005 |
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