Irrigation water sources and irrigation application methods used by U.S. plant nursery producers.

Paudel, Krishna P.; Pandit, Mahesh; Hinson, Roger

We examine irrigation water sources and irrigation methods used by U.S. nursery plant producers using nested multinomial fractional regression models. We use data collected from the National Nursery Survey (2009) to identify effects of different firm and sales characteristics on the fraction of water sources and irrigation methods used. We find that regions, sales of plants types, farm income, and farm age have significant roles in what water source is used. Given the fraction of alternative water sources used, results indicated that use of computer, annual sales, region, and the number of IPM practices adopted play an important role in the choice of irrigation method. Based on the findings from this study, government can provide subsidies to nursery producers in water deficit regions to adopt drip irrigation method or use recycled water or combination of both. Additionally, encouraging farmers to adopt IPM may enhance the use of drip irrigation and recycled water in nursery plant production.

IRRIGATION research; WATER supply research; PLANT nurseries; FARM income; WATER reuse; FARMERS

Water Resources Research, 2016, Vol 52, Issue 2, p698

0043-1397

Academic Journal

10.1002/2015WR017619