The use of digital tensiometers to control the irrigation of nursery stock incontainers was studied over a three year period. Over this time the tensiometersperformed satisfactorily and successfully automated the irrigation of the plants.The results indicate the feasibility of using them to control nursery stock irrigationunder Irish conditions. An irrigation tension of 50 hPa to trigger an irrigation period resulted in largerplants than those grown under drier regimes with irrigation tensions of 100 and200 hPa. Measurements of stomatal resistance indicated that the plants in thedrier regimes were growing under greater moisture stress.The drier regimes reduced the number of irrigations and also the overall usage ofwater. They reduced plant size but did not impair plant appearance. It may bepossible to use this approach in the future to control plant growth.There was no difference in performance between plants gown with ebb and floodirrigation and those irrigated via overhead spraylines. The ebb and flood systemgave a considerable reduction in water use.
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