|
Increase fresh water use efficiency of protected
cultivation |
Minimise fresh water use |
·
To
determine environmental impact for selected
protected-horticulture crops, for different root media and salt
content of available water.
·
To
develop irrigation/fertigation recipes for main vegetables
under protected conditions based on soil fertility, growth stage and
yield-quality targets. |
|
Increase utility of low-qua-lity water
|
·
To
compile/determine yield response to salinity of the major
crops.
·
To
determine a strategy for climate management with high
salinity of irrigation (CO2 injection, shading,
humidification), in order to mitigate salinity damage and exploit the
potential for better quality with salty root environment.
·
To
determine a strategy to minimise salt accumulation
rate in a closed-loop irrigation system, in dependence of
water and nutrients uptake and of root medium characteristics. |
|
Decrease their
reliance on good quality water |
Strategies to maximise use of lower quality water |
·
To determine
cost-benefit of possible farm level investments (rain
harvesting, drain water recycling, use of wastewater, reverse-osmosis,
disposal of residuals), depending on available water resources and
type of crops.
·
To determine a
strategy for management of water sources of varying quality,
under given constraint of input of fresh water and/or of release of
residuals.
·
To determine
feasibility of cascade combinations of crops of increasing
salt-tolerance. |
|
Ensure application of new management |
·
A
Decision support system that aims to
maximise return under given constraints in water, water quality and
release of chemicals.
·
To
develop a farmers guide and “rules of thumb”
translated to all participating languages.
·
Dissemination and short courses for
extension specialists. |
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