OSU Horticulture

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Capture Recycle Technology A Pollution
Prevention Toolfor the Green Industry

• OSU Horticulture Landscape Architecture
• Dr. Mike Schnelle
• OSU Plant Pathology
• Dr. Sharon Von Broembson
• OSU Biosystems Agricultural Engineering
• Dr. Mike Smolen
• Tim Propst

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Green Industry Water Dependent
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Green IndustryPollutants

• Fertilizer N and P
• Pesticides
• Insecticides
• Herbicides
• Fungicides
• Cleaning Supplies Disinfectants
• Bacteria
• Sediment

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Green Industry Pollutants Fertilizer

• Algae blooms
• Reduce water clarity
• Reduce dissolved oxygen
• Nitrate in ground water

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Green Industry PollutantsPesticides

• Leach into soil, ground water
• Human and environmental health risk
• High clean-up costs
• Insecticides harm aquatic insects
• Threatens food chain stability

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Green Industry PollutantsCleaning Supplies
Disinfectants

• Hazardous to environment
• Hazardous to water treatment systems

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Green Industry PollutantsBacteria
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Green Industry PollutantsSediment

• Nonpoint Source Public Enemy 1
• Interrupts aquatic ecosystem processes
• Clogs drainage flooding
• Carries other pollutants with it

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Green Industry Water Quality Concerns
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Green IndustryWhere does the water go?

• Percolates through the greenhouse floor

• Runs off to a storm drain or the sanitary sewer

• Runs into a creek

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Water Management
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Water ManagementKeys

• Avoid contamination
• Limit the amount used
• Recycle and re-use

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Water ManagementProtect Your Water Source

• Examine the casing and construction of your well
• Test your well
• Close and properly seal abandoned wells

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Water ManagementIrrigation Water Quality

• Backflow prevention
• Backflow prevention
• Backflow prevention
• Get the idea???

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Water ManagementBackflow Prevention

• Install backflow prevention devices and properly
  train personnel
• Ensure someone is near the spray tank during all
  filling and mixing operations
• Fill tanks with water first, then move away from
  water source to add pesticide or fertilizer
• Test well water regularly for contamination

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Water ManagementRunoff Storm Water

• Know all irrigation runoff regulations
• Determine if a water discharge permit is required
• Determine quantity of runoff
• Compare the quality of irrigation water and
  runoff with water quality standards and
  regulations
• Develop a plan to manage off-site storm water and
  runoff from the nursery

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Water ManagementLimit Use

• Over-watering leaches fertilizers and pesticides
  into soil
• Reduces product effectiveness
• Increases cost

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Water ManagementIrrigation Management

• Irrigation Scheduling
• Match water use to plant needs
• Irrigation Efficiency
• Drip irrigation

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Water ManagementRecycle and Reuse

• Sub-irrigation
• Ebb and flow
• Capture and Recycle

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Capture and Recycle System Design

• Runoff irrigation is captured in a network of
  channels and ditches

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Capture and Recycle System Design

• Irrigation runoff is diverted to retention basins
  for storage or back onto production areas

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Capture and Recycle Operational Basics

• Allow collected water to settle before re-use
• If needed, treat to eliminate pathogens/pesticides
  before re-use
• Mix re-cycled water with freshwater to improve
  water quality
• Use freshwater on the most sensitive crops

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Capture and RecycleGoals

• Conserve water and reduce water and energy costs
• Increase control over water availability and
  quality while meeting environmental objectives
• Promote a positive public perception, which is
  important for business

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Capture and Recycle Advantages

• Pollution prevention
• Reduced water and energy costs
• Steady water supply
• Storm water control
• Greater management flexibility

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Capture and Recycle Disadvantages

• Implementation can be costly
• Water-borne pathogens (e.g., Phyto-phthora spp.)
  are recycled onto crops
• Build-up of salts and pesticides

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What About Plant Pathogens Recycled in the
Irrigation Water?
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Disease Management
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Disease ManagementDetermine a Baseline Level

• Collect water samples at the source, runoff
  sites, and points of use

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Disease ManagementDetermine a Baseline Level

• Float leaf baits (e.g. rhododendron or lemon
  leaves) in retention basin

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Disease ManagementDetermine a Baseline Level

• Obtain soil samples to detect pathogens in
  production beds

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Disease ManagementReduce Infection Risk

• Store and mix captured runoff to promote settling
  out and dilution of pathogens
• Draw water from the middle level of retention
  basins to avoid pathogens
• Decontaminate infected water, as necessary

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Disease ManagementDisinfection Methods

• Retention and Dilution

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Disease ManagementDisinfection Methods

• Filtration

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Disease ManagementDisinfection Methods

• Chlorination

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Disease ManagementDisinfection Methods

• Ozonation

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Disease ManagementDisinfection Methods

• Ultraviolet radiation

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Disease ManagementManage Infection Risk

• Group plant types according to their disease
  susceptibility
• Know the cleanliness of all water in the
  nursery and plan water use accordingly

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What about Fertilizers in a Capture and Recycle
System?
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Nutrient Management
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Nutrient ManagementAssess Fertility Needs

• Account for N and P in the water
• Test field soils annually to account for
  carry-over of N and other nutrients
• Test irrigation water sources three times a year
  for salt levels, pH levels, and bicarbonates

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Nutrient ManagementFertilizer Application

• Apply only as much as needed
• Calibrate application equipment
• Utilize controlled-release fertilizers instead of
  soluble forms

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Nutrient ManagementGood Housekeeping

• Store chemicals safely (with proper containment
  for spills) at least 100 ft from water sources
• Handle chemicals safely
• Dispose of containers properly
• Re-use rinsates on labeled crop or as makeup
  water for labeled mix
• Dispose of excess concentrate properly

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What about Pesticides in a Capture and Recycle
System?
Integrated Pest Management
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The IPM ApproachPrevention

• Host Plant Resistance
• Produce and market well-adapted resistant species
  and/or cultivars
• Inspect Incoming Plants
• Detect and Monitor Pests
• Visual Inspection
• Detection and Monitoring Devices

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The IPM ApproachTreatment

• Establish Thresholds for Action
• Cosmetic thresholds
• Action thresholds
• Economic thresholds
• Biological Control
• Water Management
• Pesticide Management

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Pesticide Management Before You Apply

• Discontinue routine spray programs
• Treat based on action thresholds
• Know soil type and depth to ground water at site
• Consider the vulnerability of the site
• Evaluate the location of water source
• Develop an emergency action plan to contain
  pesticide spills

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Pesticide ManagementPesticide Selection

• Utilize softer pesticides that are less toxic
  to the environment
• Utilize pesticides with the least potential for
  surface runoff and leaching

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Pesticide Management Good Housekeeping

• Store in a facility with an impermeable floor and
  no floor drain at least 100 ft from water sources
• Make sure containers and application equipment do
  not leak
• Mix, handle, and store at least 100 ft from spray
  tank
• Prevent backflow during mixing

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Pesticide Management Application

• Calibrate all application equipment
• Read and follow label instructions
• Leave buffer zones around areas such as wells,
  irrigation ditches, streams, etc. that lead to
  ground or surface water
• Do not apply when conditions are likely to
  produce runoff or excessive leaching
• Do not spray on windy days

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Pesticide Management After You Apply

• Apply excess to labeled sites
• Do not water treated areas immediately after
  application unless indicated on label
  instructions
• Triple- or pressure-rinse empty containers - pour
  rinsate into spray tank
• Keep records of soil and water tests for future

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SummaryGreen Industry

• Success dependent on water
• Potential pollutants (fertilizers, pesticides,
  etc.) threaten water quality
• Attention to water quality now can avoid problems
  later

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Summary Pollution Prevention

• Water Management
• Disease Management
• Nutrient Management
• Pesticide Management

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SummaryCapture and Recycle

• Reduces water costs
• Assures constant water supply
• Effectively controls storm water
• Enhances overall management flexibility