Low Water–Demand Plants for Landscaping and Agricultural Cultivations – A Review Regarding Local Species of Epirus/Greece and Apulia/Italy

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Evaluation of an operational participatory system for irrigation recommendations - case study for kiwifruit crop in Greece

In Greece - like many Mediterranean countries - irrigation is by far the major water user. In this framework the development of operational tools that support decisions and provide recommendations aiming to improved irrigation management is of great importance. In this study a web-based participatory system for irrigation management (the system hereafter) that operates from 2015 at the plain of Arta (NW Greece) is evaluated for the case of kiwifruit, an evolving crop for the area which is characterized by high water requirements. Water usage and soil moisture were monitored in a typical for the area orchard of Actinidia deliciosa 'Hayward', during three irrigation periods (2016, 2017 and 2018). At the same time the system generated recommendations for future irrigation applications, based on the outcomes of a water balance model that followed the principles of FAO's paper 56. The model took into account: (a) measurements of weather parameters from agro-meteorological stations in the area; (b) soil, crop and irrigation system parameters; (c) time and volume of the actual irrigation applications and (d) weather data forecasting. The soil moisture time series that were produced by the system's model were compared to those measured by the soil moisture sensors. The largest root mean square error (RMSE) was found to be 5,1%. It was also found that following the system's recommendations, could lead to significantly fewer irrigation applications and less water usage per year compared to the applied practice. © 2022 International Society for Horticultural Science. All rights reserved

Effect of Symbiotic Microorganisms on Turfgrass under Two Irrigation Regimes

Aim: Efficient use of irrigation water is one of the main goal for turfgrass keepers. In this study, the ability of selected symbiotic microorganisms to improve turfgrass visual quality and growth under two different irrigation regimes was investigated. Study Design: Three soil inoculants, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens FZB42 (B), Glomus intraradices (G) and Trichoderma harzianum (strain T-22) (T) were applied to a loamy sand soil in order to colonize Festuca arundinacea, ‘Grande II’. Regarding irrigation differentiation, a stress cycle, during which soil moisture was kept at the level of 50% of available soil water, was applied. Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was conducted under open field conditions in North West Greece during the summer of 2014. Methodology: Twenty four rectangular compartments of 1x2m each hosted the plots. The experimental design was multi-factorial, involving two factors (the three above mentioned root symbiotic microorganisms and two soil moisture level (100% and 50% of available soil water) treatments) and completely randomized regarding the microorganisms, with 3 replications per treatment. A number of parameters like climatic conditions, soil moisture, colonization, dry weight of clippings and canopy spectral reflectance were measured. Results: The results showed that T. harzianum T-22 and B. amyloliquefaciens FZB42 promoted the aerial plant growth (total dry weight of clippings) of F. arundinacea under water stress conditions while G. intraradices had no effect on the growth. In qualitative terms, no statistically significant differences were found among treatments. Conclusion: The results of this open field study provide promising evidence regarding the potential for agronomic application of the soil inoculants that were evaluated

Evaluation of water footprint for table olive groves of Olea europaea L. 'Konservolea'

As agriculture appears to be globally the greatest water user and water scarcity, due to fresh water shortages or deterioration of fresh water quality, is listed among the major global risks, efficient use of water resources is closely linked to sustainable agricultural practices. Water footprint (WF) has been largely employed during the last decade as a useful tool for planning efficient water management strategies at global, national, regional or even water basin level. WF is an indicator that is based on methods and tools that calculate the amount of water used along the full supply chain of a product. 'Konservolea' is a local table olive cultivar assigned as a protected geographical indication (PGI) product of Arta, Greece. It is the main table olive cultivar in the area, it has a significant impact on local economy and it exhibits favorable economic and market prospects. In this study the WF of 'Konservolea' was calculated based on actual data from four olive groves and the results are presented and discussed. All four groves were conventionally treated according to the local practices regarding pruning, fertilisation, plant protection, etc. Three of the olive groves were irrigated, while the fourth was rainfed. The WF of the four olive groves ranged from 354 to 961 m3 t-1 of olive fruit. The results provide a first yet solid assessment of the WF of table olive crop in the area and underline the effect of different agronomic practices on WF. Practical difficulties regarding the calculation of WF that need to be further investigated and resolved are pointed out. © 2022 International Society for Horticultural Science. All rights reserved

Effects of recycled and grey water on the growth of ornamental shrubs used in urban green spaces of north-western Greece

Worldwide efforts for water conservation has led to successful reuse of water for irrigation. This is particularly important for countries that demonstrate water scarcity phenomena as in Southern Europe, especially during the summer, due to increased summer temperatures, low precipitation and increased demands for water for irrigation and tourism. Irrigation of urban green spaces uses considerable amounts of water and water reuse constitutes a sustainable, practice. However, the application of reusable water for irrigation purposes faces the potential risk of exhibiting toxicity in plants, as it usually contains high concentrations of dissolved salts. Therefore, a field study was undertaken at the Technological Educational Institute of Epirus (TEIEP, Arta, Greece) from May to October 2014 in order to assess the effects of irrigation using recycled water and greywater on the quality and growth of ornamental shrubs. Three irrigation treatments were applied to six shrub species namely Abelia chinensis, Ligustrum japonicum, Photinia serrulata, Viburnum tinus, Pittosporum tobira and Thuja occidentalis. Irrigation treatments constituted of tertiary treated wastewater provided by the Municipal Sewage Treatment Plant, grey water captured from TEIEP's facilities and tap water provided by the local municipal potable water supply network. Plant quality (overall status of plant determined by photographs), was rated on a five point scale at regular intervals and plant growth assessed by the measurement of height and mean width, and the calculation of growth index at fortnight intervals. Results showed that the different irrigation treatments affected both the visual quality and growth of plant species differently. Therefore depending on the plant species, irrigation with tap water could be replaced or supplemented by irrigation with grey water or/and recycled water. © 2017 ISHS