A Newsletter for Professionals Growing Greenhouse Crops in the Rocky Mountain Region

Contents

• Greenhouse Research Update from the University of Wyoming

After a summer like the last one, when lack of precipitation created one of the driest seasons on record, managing water in a production operation should certainly be on every grower's mind. If weather patterns are indeed changing we ought to be preparing for conserving and reusing our most precious resource here: water.

To that end, the University of Wyoming is trying to set an example. We recently completed installation of ebb-and-flood benches in the horticulture research greenhouse. Not only did we increase available growing space by 56%, but we now have the capability of recirculating the water to boot.

How did we do this? The ebb-and-flood benches are also rolling benches. By using rolling bench technology, we eliminated all but about 1-1/2 aisles. (The way the greenhouse is configured, we couldn't get it down to only one aisle.) The ebb-and-flood benches fill and drain into an 80-gallon stock tank that can be easily drained and refilled at any time. Right now we are using plain water for the new tomato crop that is on the benches because the growing medium has a fertilizer charge in it. As the plants grow and develop we can either fill the stock tank with a fertilizer solution or keep it plain water and use a slow release fertilizer applied around each plant.

Currently the pumps are on timers set to fill the benches twice a day, early morning and mid-afternoon. We can reset the timers for any configuration we'd like. This is an important aspect of growing on these benches, because watering schedules can be changed according to weather patterns, seasonal changes, and the growth and development of the crop.

As 2001 unfolds, we may or may not see more warm, dry weather in the already-arid West. But at least a few of us are prepared for possible water shortages. Are you?

Karen L. Panter, Ph.D.
Extension Horticulture Specialist
Department of Plant Sciences
P.O. Box 3354
University of Wyoming
Laramie, WY  82071-3354

phone 307-766-5117
fax 307-766-5549
cell phone 307-760-0581

e-mail kpanter@uwyo.edu