Project title: Project contact information: Project description: Project outcomes:

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Abigail Lang
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Project title: Clay Pot Sub-surface Irrigation System as Sustainable Water-saving Technology for Small Scale Edible Garden Project on Campus at UW-Platteville: A Pilot Study.

1 Project title: Clay Pot Sub-surface Irrigation System as Sustainable Water-saving Technology for Small Scale Edible Garden Project on Campus at UW-Platteville: A Pilot Study. Project contact information: Name: Dr. Rami Reddy Title: Professor, Agribusiness, School of Agriculture; BILSA; UW-Platteville reddya@uwplatt.edu Phone number: (608) Project description: Green Campus Project, a student organization and the Office of Sustainability at UW-P, has started an edible campus garden couple of years ago that grows a mix of vegetables, fruits, and flowers using organic methods in raised beds. This initiative had expanded into several mini-edible gardens located around campus. One of the problems with remote gardens is the supply of irrigation water to plants, which will be a serious problem during summer months. This proposal addresses that issue by piloting a clay pot subsurface irrigation system, an ancient method widely used in other countries by small farmers, with less frequent watering that has proven to conserve 70%-80% water over conventional surface irrigation methods and 25-30% over drip irrigation. This pilot project will be demonstrated on two remote (water-access), but highly visible gardens during the summer This project aims at sustainable food production and water conservation by efficient utilization of water to maximize production per unit volume given limited available water resources. In many less developed parts of the world, notably arid/semi-arid zones, and in some parts of South-West USA, traditional methods of sub-surface irrigation methods, especially Olla (clay pot) irrigation is widely used to conserve scarce water resources. Sub-surface irrigation using unglazed porous clay pots is an ancient method still practiced today in several countries, notably India, Iran, Brazil (Power, 1985; Yadav, 1974; Anon, 1978 and 1983; Laker, 2000). This ancient, efficient, low-cost and low-technology system will be tested on a pilot basis, to assess the results on remote edible gardens production at UW-Platteville campus that involve student organizations. Project outcomes: This pilot project will helps us achieve most of our campus sustainability goals stated below and explained in the specific aims section of this pilot project proposal. Campus sustainability goals are: Visually exhibit sustainability on campus to make campus a living laboratory for sustainability; Integrate sustainability into formal curriculum and professional preparedness; Build resources that promote and support campus sustainability; Increase awareness of campus sustainability efforts within the community and broader region; Make sustainability part of our daily campus operations. 1

2 The four major aims of this pilot study are to: I. Irrigate remote campus edible gardens. II. Campus beautification & appeal to visitors. III. Demonstration & education on water saving technology. IV. Student engagement & research opportunities The aims of this pilot project will clearly fulfill the campus sustainability goals. I. Irrigate remote campus edible gardens Improving water use efficiency is vitally important and is critical for plant growth during summer months. Even in Wisconsin, summer months in certain years are drought prone. Maintaining and expanding edible gardens around the campus is a daunting task due to accessing of water to remote sites. It also costs very much in terms of time and money to maintain such remote gardens. The only practical solution to overcome moisture stress in soil and meet plant needs at field conditions is by maintaining sustainable moisture conditions. To mitigate water shortage during summer, and access remote gardens with less frequent watering, clay pot (Olla) irrigation technology is a simple but very efficient for small gardens. The technology is comparable of sub-surface drip irrigation. Water is made available as plant needs it, through a system of connected buried clay pots that supply water to the root zone and are connected to a larger reservoir/tank. The system has been used successfully for the irrigation of vegetables, orchards and woodlots. Subsurface irrigation, in which water is applied below the soil surface, can help conserve water by reducing evaporative water losses in agricultural systems. Sub-surface irrigation has been practiced in various forms since ancient times, including pitcher or pot irrigation (Bainbridge, 2001; Siyal et al.,) and perforated or porous clay pipe irrigation (Ashrafi et al., 2002; Qiaosheng et al., 2007). Make sustainability part of our daily campus operations. II. Campus beautification & appeal to visitors Strategically placed beautiful ceramic vessels that are aesthetic & functional will carry the irrigation water (or nutrient solution) and are connected to a system of buried clay pots through irrigation pipes/tubes to supply water to plants in the raised beds. Highly visible and attractive ceramic vessels that serve as water reservoirs will beautify the landscape. The water reservoir will be filled as needed and will require less frequent watering to plants (watering once in a 4-7 days). The decorative ceramic vessels and clay pots made by student organization are functional, will beautify the campus and will be covered with plants that will be sustained during harsh conditions. The signage and promotion through gardens will further enhance campus appeal to visitors. Visually exhibit sustainability on campus to make campus a living laboratory for sustainability. 2

3 III. Demonstration & education on water saving technology This pilot project is important to address the problems of the campus edible remote garden project, as we can sustain food production & educate people as it effects on crop growth and quality of produce (esp., tomatoes and melons). It will showcase small scale irrigation practices & low-cost water saving technology. We can also demonstrate sustainable, environmental and ecological friendly approach to irrigation. Success of this pilot project will lead to further expansion into other garden areas. This water saving technology could be adopted by home gardeners in the community. The student organizations will be benefited by more community engagement projects either through working for the city or local garden projects. Increase awareness of campus sustainability efforts within the community and broader region. Build resources that promote and support campus sustainability. IV. Student participation & research opportunities There will be a high degree of student involvement from the time of pilot project s inception to conclusion. Two student organizations, i.e. clay club & edible garden club will be very much involved and vested with the interests of further study & research. Many possibilities to experiment, conduct research and field trials will open up for undergraduate science and art majors. Some example of studies such as, making a simple, but efficient technological device (the clay pot & ceramic vessel) which entails creation with various porosity, wetting capabilities and design; Investigation of soil wetting patterns for sub-surface clay pot systems operating at different water pressures; Water use efficiency studies; Study of installation depth & lateral spacing as well as the amount of evaporative water loss; Study of soil texture & soil hydraulic conductivity and water retention; Study of the wetting geometry etc., This project will further the undergraduate research, engagement and involvement into campus or community based projects. It further expands; beautiful gardens covered throughout the campus, and foster student creativity and involvement. This project will also generate income to clay club, saving of time and effort to maintain many edible gardens to the edible garden club. It generates student employment, when implemented throughout the campus. Integrate sustainability into formal curriculum and professional preparedness. 3

4 Qualifications: 1) Dr. Rami Reddy: Professor, Agribusiness: Project Investigator/Coordinator. a. PI had successfully done several grants and projects at state, federal level during the past 18 years of service at UW-P. b. There is high degree of support from School of Agriculture, student organizations and campus leadership. c. PI had studied and observed this technology being implemented on large scale to grow fruit trees in India. d. PI is the overall, coordinator of proposed activities that had technical expertise and access to resources. e. PI will guide and support student organizations work and had good experience in advising student clubs on campus. 2) Clay Pot Club: On campus student organization, Clay club, that regularly hosts ceramic sales on campus will be involved in the design & production of clay pots with desired porosity. Also, there are Olla pots that are commercially available to start the project. The clay pot studio on campus has all the resources to produce clay pots and ceramic vessels. Clay pot club will be involved with making of the suitable Olla (Clay pot) pots that will be connected as a system with a gravity fed tank (Another big Ornamental Olla/ceramic vessel, gallon capacity). The clay club routinely conducts lot of ceramic sales on campus, thus highly visible, and works in conjunction with several other student organizations, notably horticulture club in the School of Agriculture. 3) Edible Garden Club: Green Campus Project s, Edible garden student club will select two remote gardens to implement the pilot study and will conduct a comparative observational study with traditional watered garden. The members of this club will maintain and take care of the garden, and perform normal duties as required to maintain edible gardens. This pilot project will be carried out during summer If successful, it will be implemented on major and minor future summer edible gardens and will be promoted to the community gardeners. 4) Student Hired Help: One student will be hired on hourly basis, to assist at the time of project implementation, to install the systems, and plant in conjunction with edible garden club. Preferably, the student will be the one with high degree of interest in sustainable agriculture and/or practices. 4

5 Project start date and duration: 04/01/ /01/2017 Requested funding amount: $4,000. Project coordinator salary: $2,000 Student salary: $600 Materials & supplies: $1,400 Project budget & timeline: Item Salary to Project coordinator Date of planned expenditure Cost Description 06/1/17 $2,000 PI salary/time: Coordinator of the project from beginning to the conclusion. PI will work closely with the student organizations, lead and guide their efforts. Plan, support & execute pilot project. Generate reports and feedback. Student Salary 5/1/17 to 06/01/17 $600 Student worker will be employed during execution of pilot project to install & maintain clay-pot irrigation systems during the project time. Materials: 04/1/17 to 06/01/17 $1,400 Clay Pots/Ceramic Vessels (20-30 gallon capacity) $700 Prepared by the clay club, student organization. Make both the large ceramic vessel that serve as reservoir and small clay pots. As an alternative, in the market place, commercial systems can be bought. Irrigation Supplies $200 Irrigation pipes, tubing, drippers etc., Planting Materials & Soil Mix Water soluble plant nutrients (organic) Travel/Promotional materials/others $200 Specially blended soil mix (organic) will be prepared and added to raised beds that will have great water/nutrient holding capacity. $100 Acquire organic nutrients that can dissolve in water, and supplied via the clay-pots to the plants (fertigation). $200 Travel to stores or places to get supplies, signage and promotion materials for the project. And any other miscellaneous items. Total Funding Request $4,000 5

Title: Project Lead: Abstract: Promoting Landscape Stewardship Through Interactive Interpretation.

Title: Project Lead: Abstract: Promoting Landscape Stewardship Through Interactive Interpretation. Title: Promoting Landscape Stewardship Through Interactive Interpretation. Project Lead: Tanya M. Quist, Asst. Professor, School of Plant Sciences and UA Campus Arboretum Director. Contact information: