‘Free’ water for plants

Water is an increasing expense for horticultural businesses. What are the options to use this natural resource more efficiently?

An innovative rain water harvesting system was installed at Greenmount Campus in 2008 to collect rain from the existing glasshouse. The system should yield approximately 1700 cubic metres of  water which meets crop water requirements within the glasshouse and is worth approx £1600 per annum. It consists of collecting rain from the glass house roof which is then gravity fed to a collection tank and from there pumped through a slow sand filter to remove any debris prior to being used for irrigating crops.

The rainwater collection system can be viewed during the ‘Green Challenge’ Conference on 5 February 2009 at Greenmount Campus, CAFRE. This conference, jointly organised with the Horticultural Trade Association (HTA), focuses on sustainable issues in horticulture. It will target not only businesses in commercial horticulture (fruit, mushrooms, vegetables and ornamental crops) but also garden centres and local authorities. Those attending will be able to explore the latest sustainable solutions which could benefit their businesses now and in the future.

For further information on the conference, please contact Kieran Lavelle, Senior Horticulture Development Adviser, Greenmount Campus, CAFRE.

Telephone: Office 02837515651 mobile: 07990575893

Dr Raja Harun, Senior Horticulture Technologist, and Mr Cathal Ellis, Horticulture Technologist at the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE), Greenmount Campus discussing rainwater harvesting technology