Meeting to cover drip irrigation for farms and gardens
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Farmers and gardeners interested in the basics of drip irrigation can learn tips and techniques at the Drip Irrigation for Home and Farm Meeting in Fortville.
The meeting, sponsored by Purdue Extension, will be held at 6 p.m. on May 15 at the Garden of Eat'in, 268 E. 600 N., about 1.5 miles west of State Route 9.
Featured speakers will be Mark Torkelson of Indiana Irrigation Co. Inc., who will address basic principles of drip, or trickle, irrigation and demonstrate how to set up and customize individual irrigation systems; and Liz Maynard, Extension horticulture specialist, who will discuss the effects of water quality, quantity, timing, and application method on crop yield and quality. Other session topics will include "fertigation," the practice of dissolving fertilizer in irrigation water.
Chris Dobbins Guill will discuss the purpose and daily operations of the Garden of Eat'in, a community volunteer project that Guill founded to promote health and well-being in Hancock County by raising and donating fresh fruits and vegetables to local soup kitchens and food pantries.
Drip/trickle irrigation applies water directly to plant roots in a slow drip or trickle. This method saves money by reducing water use while accurately targeting the plants that need it rather than spraying water over both plants and weeds.
There is no cost to attend the meeting, but participants should register by contacting Roy Ballard at 317-462-1113 or rballard@purdue.edu.
Writer: Jessica Merzdorf, 765-494-8402, jmerzdor@purdue.edu
Source: Roy Ballard, 317-462-1113, rballard@purdue.edu
Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Keith Robinson, robins89@purdue.edu
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