Crop Irrigation
According to information posted on the U.S. Geological Survey website, about 39 percent, of all the fresh water used in the United States goes to irrigate crops and has remained the largest use of fresh water.
Commercial greenhouse and nursery crops require large quantities of high quality water. Many commercial greenhouse and nursery operations have surface ponds or reservoirs for an irrigation water source. The energy cost to use surface ponds rather than well water for irrigation is considerably less; pond pumping equipment is less expensive to purchase, operate and maintain; and conserve ground water. Surface ponds are also an important source of irrigation water for growers of permanent crops such as fruit and nut trees, berry bushes, and grape vines. Field crops and vegetables can also be irrigated with pond water during dry seasons.
The water collected in these ponds or reservoirs mostly comes from precipitation or runoff from the facilities and can contain high levels of nutrients. Some of these nutrients are beneficial for the crop that is being watered, but they can also lead to extensive algal growth in the pond. When pond water temperatures increase in late spring, algal populations can become large enough to clog irrigation systems.
Watersites are incredibly complex. No two ponds seem to be alike and consequently the treatment often differs. An irrigation pond may require a sidestream ultrasonic piping system to treat water as it is circulating through the pump in addition to pond units. Working with EnviroSonic, it can 1) be determined if ultrasonic units will meet your requirements, and 2) design a system for effective results. Contact information and office hours are listed on the Tech Support page.
- by JoAnn Sanborn - February 2, 2011 -