Reduction of Water Consumption in Greenhouses with Application of Natural and Artificial Soil Amendments

Water scarcity is one of the most important challenges for development and sustainable agriculture in the world especially in desert area. Thus finding and advising the methods in order to increasing water use efficiency in order to sustainable development and agriculture as well as nature conservation is a vital need. This study was conducted to investigate of decreasing water consumption in greenhouse of Yazd city (in central of Iran with annual precipitation equal to 60 mm) by using different superabsorbent within soil. Experiment was designed in a split plot based on completely randomized block design with three replication. Irrigation periods (3 periods including 4, 8 and 12 interval days) were considered as main factor while additive soil including hydrogel, plastic cover and cotton waste materials were sub. factor. Results indicated waste cotton is the best soil amendment among others and increasing irrigation period from 4 to 8 days is possible without significant reduction of the fruit production in condition of study area. Results indicated 31% increasing of production in 8 days irrigation by using of cotton waste compared to the control. Thus, using of cotton waste as sustainable production in greenhouse systems should be attended in arid regions.