ECOIDRIFLOR

Approved and funded project by Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies D.M. n.194/7303/06 27/07/2006

• In nursery gardening a correct management of water resources is necessary condition for the maximum yield and the eco-compatibility of the production system. 
• In many areas with a floriculture vocation, there is also one progressive decrease of water resources and their qualitative decline caused by salinization phenomena

The general objective of the coordinated project is the study of biological, physiological and technological bases to improve the efficiency of use of water resources in the production of cut flower species and ornamental plants in containers and in open field.

General objectives of the project:

1. Identify the critical factors and parameters of the impact of floriculture production on the quality / quantity of groundwater, also with reference to the nutrients present in the percolation waters.
2. thoroughly study the biological, physiological and environmental factors involved in the efficiency of use of the water resource.
3. Define suitable bio / technological solutions for the rationalization of the use of water through the enhancement of species with high levels of water use efficiency, the introduction of new species and / or innovative irrigation systems and methods.
4. Define the criteria and limits for the use of brackish water also through the identification of species tolerant to salinity. The methodologies used refer to plant production technologies, ecophysiology and crop- physiology (growth analysis, physiology of gas exchanges, water potentials, determination of the hormonal balance ...) integrated with analytical methods for the study of the dynamics of salts in the plant and in the substrates and the physical-chemical characterization of the substrates and using sensors and modeling applied to plant crops in order to identify interdisciplinary approaches to scientific research in floriculture.

 The project involved the participation of the following Operating Units (OU):

• Department of Agricultural Engineering and Agronomy of the Territory – Naples University
• Department of Agricultural, Food and Agro-environmental Sciences – Pisa University
• Council for Agricultural Research and Agricultural Economy Analysis
• Department of Agriculture and Forest Sciences – Tuscia University Viterbo
• Department of Biology, agriculture and food sciences - National Research Council