Tuesday, April 30, 2013: 1:55 p.m.
Regency East 3 (Hyatt Regency San Antonio)
Agricultural communities and urban municipalities in the Edwards Aquifer region are being seriously affected by frequent and more severe droughts, limited water resources, and increased regulations restricting water use. There is an urgent need for maximizing crop water use efficiency while conserving underground water resources. On the other hand, consumer demand for high-quality and nutritious vegetables is rapidly increasing. Several strategies can be used to increase water savings, such as selecting high-efficiency irrigation systems, applying crop coefficients and evapotranspiration climatic data for irrigation management, stressing crops to a certain profitable level, and growing crops when evapotranspiration demands are reduced. A two-year field study evaluated growth, yield, quality and quercetin concentration in response to planting density and deficit irrigation applied with subsurface drip in onion (Allium cepa L. cv. TG 1015). Deficit irrigation at 75% ETc had a higher volume of larger bulb sizes than 50% ETc, but similar to 100% ETc. Neither irrigation rates nor planting density had a significant effect on onion quality (soluble solids content, pungency, or quercetin). These results suggest that growers could adjust planting densities and implement water conserving practices (e.g., 75% ETc rate) to target high-price bulb sizes without reducing flavor or nutritional components. Similarly, field studies were conducted to determine yield, leaf quality, vitamin C and carotenoid contents in response to deficit irrigation and plant population of processing spinach (Spinacia oleracea L. cv. DMC 66-16). Marketable yields increased with higher water inputs (100% ETc), while deficit irrigation at 50% ETc significantly reduced marketable yield under center pivot and low pressure drip systems. Deficit irrigation at 75% ETc was not detrimental for both yield and quality. The potential use of regulated deficit irrigation as a strategy to save water without reducing productivity for cool season vegetables will be discussed.
| Daniel I. Leskovar , Texas A&M AgriLife Research | |
| Daniel I. Leskovar is a Professor of Vegetable Physiology with Texas A&M AgriLife Research and the Department of Horticultural Sciences at Texas A&M University. He conducts research on plant physiology, irrigation, and crop management of vegetable crops. Current efforts include seed biology and germination, stand establishment, vegetable crop water requirements, development of crop coefficients for vegetable and agronomic crops, and use of plant growth regulators. | |
| Raul I. Cabrera , Texas A&M AgriLife Research | |
|
|
Raul I. Cabrera is an Associate Professor of Ornamental Horticulture with Texas A&M AgriLife Research and the Department of Horticultural Sciences at Texas A&M University. He conducts research on plant physiology, mineral nutrition, irrigation, and fertilization management in intensively grown ornamental crops (nursery and greenhouse) and urban landscape plants and plantings. Current efforts include evaluation of alternative irrigation water sources (saline, graywater, poor quality) and water- and resource-efficient plant materials for low-maintenance, sustainable urban landscapes. |
| Marco A. Palma , Texas A&M AgriLife Extension | |
| Dr. Marco Palma is Associate Professor and Extension Economist in the Agricultural Economics Department, at Texas A&M University. Dr Palma’s responsibilities involve leadership and coordination for extension educational programs and applied research in Horticultural Marketing by providing technical expertise and educational program development for industry audiences, such as producers, packers, and shippers, wholesale and retail trade. Dr Palma conducts applied research on consumer preferences and trends for horticultural products. | |
