Fertigation
Fertigation
(click the title for the listening link)
Researchers at the University of Warwick’s plant research arm Warwick HRI have spent years examining ways of responding to the fact that the UK is increasingly becoming a water-scarce country – particularly in the south and east. They have adopted, adapted and automated the basic engineering behind an irrigation technique first used in Southern Europe and Israel called ‘fertigation’ (a newly-created word which combines fertilisation with irrigation). The leader of this research team is called Dr Jim Monaghan, from Harper Adams University College (in Shropshire, England).
In this interview, Dr Monaghan talks about how scientists have adapted fertigation, a system used for years by Israel and Spain, for the UK.
1 What phrase tells the listener that it has been particularly hot in the UK recently?
2 Where has there been a shortage of water?
3 Are these conditions just freak events ( freak events = one-off events unlikely to recur (recur = re-occur)?
4 For what three areas are the implications of a water-shortage ‘serious’?
5 What have researchers at Warwick University been concentrating on developing?
6 Most consumers in Great Britain are aware that hosepipe bans have been imposed – they are not allowed to water their gardens, or wash their cars, for instance. Is this also the case for farmers?
7 When will the new EU legislation on water be implemented?
8 The EU legislation will be called the Water Framework Directive. What 2 areas of water supply will it address concerning farming?
9 Where have farmers and agriculturalists had these water-related problems for years?
10 Why has this new word ‘fertigation‘ been invented?
11 What happens with fertigation when you water crops such as tomatoes in soil-free conditions?
12 Is this the same procedure as when you grow crops in fields in the traditional way?
13 Is it possible to fertilise crops at the same time as they are irrigated?
14 Which four countries are cited as being ‘arid’ countries?
15 Why do they have to be accurate with their use of water?
16 Has Great Britain usually had problems of a lack of water?
17 Dr Jim Monaghan describes rain ‘guns’ and rain ‘booms’ (irrigation equipment) as ‘inefficient’ – what is the evidence of this?
18 When does this waste of water happen?
19 Farmers put down trickle-tape, (which looks like a flat hose-pipe with holes in it) between rows of plants. What does this supply?
20a What usually happens when fertiliser is applied in the traditional way and b) how does this ‘new’ method affect the procedure ?
21 How many years research had been done at the time of the interview?
22 With which crops?
23 Have researchers at Warwick HRI worked with any businesses yet?
22 How much less fertiliser has been using in growing the two crops they have studied?
23 What two benefits of using this system are mentioned?
24 Can you complete the phrase Dr Monaghan uses to describe the waste of water resources ?
It’s like ‘a guy ………………………….
25 If this is a subject which interests you, you may like to listen to the next few minutes of the interview and then summarise the main features of dynamic fertigation and check that your facts are correct.
Dynamic fertigation is a ……