Listening to the language of plants can help greenhouse growers use water more efficiently, says an Alberta Agriculture development specialist.
Mohyuddin Mirza told delegates at the Saskatchewan Greenhouse and Vegetable Growers conference in Saskatoon Nov. 10-12 that plants can speak volumes through their appearance.
Dark leaf colour, a short stunted appearance and the distance between leaves all point to water shortages.
“Learn what the plant is trying to tell you,” he said.
Mirza said overuse of irrigation happens because greenhouse growers are unsure how much water to use.
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Irrigation computers can help make the best use of water by monitoring growing conditions in the greenhouses and making necessary adjustments.
They sense the amount of light, triggering 150 millilitres of water per sq. metre of greenhouse for each 100 joules of light.
“Any efficiencies we can introduce to prevent leaching would be of much benefit to the land and to the environment,” he said.
Mirza also advised testing water supplies twice a year.
Growers should locate their operations near good water or consider a reverse osmosis system, which is used in many rose growing operations.
Mirza said high sodium levels found in tests near Rosetown, Sask., are not needed for plant growth and produce “antagonistic effects” in plants.
Growing media should be considered in water use, he said, noting how coconut fibre has good oxygen content and a high water holding capacity and requires less water. The stage of growth also plays a role in watering.
“Cucumbers’ yield is directly proportionate to the amount of water they get during fruiting,” Mirza said.
