UC Davis and UCANR are conducting a research study to enhance water and nutrient use efficiency in Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) facilities, focusing greenhouses and indoor vertical farms. This initiative, supported by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), will provide personalized recommendations to improve irrigation efficiency, optimize nutrient use, and explore potential water recycling solutions.
As part of this project, our project team will visit the growers' facility to conduct assessments and provide technical assistance. Our goal is to evaluate current irrigation and fertigation practices and offer customized recommendations to improve resource efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance crop productivity.
During our visit, we will offer to:
- Assess irrigation system performance, including flow rate, uniformity, and scheduling.
- Conduct water quality analysis for pH, salinity, and key nutrients.
- Evaluate substrate and growing media for water retention and nutrient-holding capacity.
- Test pump efficiency to identify pressure loss and energy consumption.
- Identify opportunities for water recycling and reuse to improve sustainability.
- Review sensor calibration and automation for precision irrigation management.
To support this effort, we ask growers to:
- Provide basic information about their irrigation system and growing practices.
- Allow on-site access for system evaluation and data collection.
- Share water and substrate samples for analysis, if applicable.
- Discuss current challenges and goals related to water and nutrient use.
Growers who participate will receive detailed recommendations tailored to their facility, along with free access to workshops and training sessions on advanced irrigation and nutrient management techniques.
You can check out most recent upcoming webinar series for this projects here below-
If you are interested in participating or have any questions, please contact us.
Contact detail:
Amrita Mukherjee
Urban Ag/ Small Farm Advisor, UCANR, Co-PI
Email: amukherjee@ucanr.edu, Phone: (909) 602 8339
