Analysis of water-saving irrigation technology applied in the flower industry

The current shortage of water resources is a global concern, and modern water-saving irrigation technologies are gradually replacing traditional crop irrigation models. In the flower production industry, traditional water pipe irrigation and manual spraying are also gradually withdrawing from the stage, replaced by water-saving technologies such as micro sprinkler irrigation with high automation and mechanization, and good water saving effects. In some places, intelligent irrigation methods are also used to manage greenhouse flowers in combination with Internet of Things technology. The application of water-saving irrigation technology in the flower industry has the following advantages and worth exploring issues.
1、 The advantages of water-saving irrigation for flowers
The application of water-saving irrigation in flower production has five obvious advantages:
1. Water conservation. Traditional flower enterprises use manual water pipes for watering, which is relatively inefficient. If drip irrigation and small pipe outflow water-saving irrigation techniques are used, not only can it save 50% -70% of water compared to irrigation, but it can also improve irrigation uniformity.
2. Save labor costs. The application of water-saving irrigation technology in flower production can save more than 90% of labor. If combined with automatic controllers, programmable controllers, frequency converters and other equipment, it can further reduce labor input and greatly save manpower.
3. Change the structure of flower planting. Nowadays, roof greening and balcony gardening are becoming more and more popular, and three-dimensional flower beds are also widely used in municipal gardens. Therefore, using a combination of micro irrigation and drip irrigation technology to promote three-dimensional greening has achieved significant results.
4. Easy to achieve integration of water and fertilizer. The application of integrated water and fertilizer technology in flower production is also a major trend. At present, water fertilizer coupling technology is a major hotspot in the field of irrigation. While irrigating, fertilization and pesticide application are synchronized according to the needs of different growth stages of flowers.
5. Improve the microclimate in the fields. For flowers that are not resistant to high humidity environments, drip irrigation can be used. For flowers that prefer high humidity, micro spraying can be used. Sprinkler irrigation can also have a cooling effect, improving the local microenvironment of plants.
2、 Misunderstandings in the application of water-saving irrigation technology in the flower industry
1. Not familiar with irrigation products
Currently, more and more flower enterprises are applying water-saving irrigation technology, but there are still some misconceptions in its use. For example, water-saving irrigation may require some investment in the early stage and maintenance in the later stage, which poses a barrier for flower enterprises. For example, the flow channel of a drip is very fine and requires high water quality, so a filtration system needs to be used during construction. In fact, as long as it is designed properly, the investment in the filtration system will not be very high. Timely maintenance can extend the service life of the filtration system and fully compensate for the labor and water costs of non water-saving irrigation methods.
2. The formulation of irrigation systems and water management have not been well integrated with the characteristics of crops being planted
Flower enterprises should develop irrigation systems according to the water and fertilizer requirements of different plants at different growth stages, and cannot blindly pursue water conservation. The flower varieties that use drip irrigation equipment in potted flowers are mainly products with high commodity value and long production cycles. Usually, there are flowers such as poinsettia, red palm, pineapple, pitcher plant, butterfly orchid, and national orchid. These flowers have a growth cycle from May to October and need to be watered 1 to 3 times a day during the growth cycle. If water-saving irrigation is adopted, it can not only save labor but also improve the quality and uniformity of flowers, and increase economic benefits.
For potted flowers with short production cycles and low commodity value, such as impatience, cockscomb, chrysanthemum, etc., production management is relatively extensive. If drip irrigation equipment is used, it is easy to cause high production input and low output. Frequent installation and disassembly of drip irrigation parts will damage the equipment, affect the normal operation of the equipment, and shorten the service life. Therefore, potted flowers with shorter production cycles are less likely to use drip irrigation equipment. The author once saw at a flower base in Shunyi, Beijing that most of the plants they planted were grass flowers and perennial flowers, all of which were planted in pots. The installation of drip arrows required a large amount of work, making it difficult to loosen the pots. Additionally, micro spraying was not wind resistant, and the flow rate of buried nozzles was too high, making it ineffective and wasting water sources. Therefore, it is not advisable to use micro spraying, drip arrows, or buried nozzles.
3. Lack of irrigation product services
At present, there are still shortcomings in domestic irrigation equipment production and construction enterprises, and the quality of irrigation products in China needs to be improved. More innovative talents and research institutions are urgently needed to join in product research and development, establish independent brands, and strengthen the product quality supervision system in the later stage, so that the products can meet relevant requirements before leaving the factory. Secondly, we should improve customer service and guide customers to use and maintain products and equipment correctly. Construction enterprises should assess the situation, match different types of flowers with different irrigation equipment, and promptly feedback any problems encountered during construction to the production party. The production party should update product performance and parameters according to actual needs to meet market demand.