Educational resources

Our ever-expanding range of educational resources will provide you and your staff with useful learning material for understanding the theory and practice of using water in an efficient and sustainable manner.

Our interactive case studies will take you through realistic scenarios of water treatment; you'll learn about the issues that need to be considered when dealing with production problems due to poor quality water and how to solve them.

Designing a Water Treatment System
You will learn about a real greenhouse that has a waterborne pathogen problem, and needs your help to design a water treatment system.

Presentations

View archived presentations from our workshops and webinars on how to monitor and control water issues.

Clean WateR3 2017 Webinars (6)

Clean WateR3: Research you can use on water conservation, recycling and treatment (January 24, 2017 Webinar)

Dr. Sarah White from Clemson University give us the take home messages from a major research project that involves 22 researchers in 9 universities. The project is helping growers to: Reduce, Remediate and Recycle. (January 2017)

Manage diseases caused by Phytophthora and Pythium in nurseries (January 31, 2017 Webinar)

Dr. Johanna Del Castillo from University of Maryland helps us understand the biology of waterborne pathogens, in order to successfully manage root rot and other diseases. (31 Jan 2017)

How do leading growers solve water quality issues? (February 7, 2017 Webinar)

There is no silver bullet that treats all water quality issues. Learn from growers who are successfully managing problems such as bacteria, particles, iron, and agrichemical residues in water. Presented by Dr. Paul Fisher from University of Florida. (7 Feb 2017)

Reasons we do or do not use water treatments and technologies (February 14, 2017 Webinar)

Dr. Alexa Lamm and Dr. Laura Warner from University of Florida share the latest social science research results detailing why we, as an industry, care a lot about water protection or conservation but then choose not to adopt water conserving technologies or treatments. This webinar will inspire growers to think about adoption and will assist extension specialists and researchers in understanding how to develop technologies and provide instructions that will make it easier for growers to adopt. (14 Feb 2017)

Enhance irrigation practices through audits and monitoring (February 21, 2017 Webinar)

Water is central to containerized crop production. Learn about simple techniques to know and improve water application efficiency from Dr. Jim Owen of Virginia Tech University. (21 Feb 2017)

Sensor-controlled irrigation and pathogen management (February 28, 2017 Webinar)

Dr. John Lea-Cox from University of Maryland illustrates how better irrigation management substantially reduces nutrient leaching and runoff, which conserves scarce freshwater resources and reduces the potential for pathogen movement from production areas. (28 Feb 2017)

Conserve water (11)

Irrigation capture factor

Dr. Tom Yeager of University of Florida IFAS Extension explains the Florida Nursery Best Management Practice for measuring the "irrigation capture factor" - how effectively container plants capture overhead irrigation water. (December 2014)

Measuring Plant available water

Dr. Tom Yeager of University of Florida IFAS Extension explains the Florida Nursery Best Management Practice of measuring how much water held by a container is available for plant uptake before wilting occurs. (December 2014)

Measuring substrate water holding capacity

A quick demonstration of how best to measure the water holding capacity of your growing mix. (December 2014)

Leaching fractions

Dr. Tom Yeager (University of Florida IFAS Extension) explains best practice for measuring leaching in container grown plants. (December 2014)

Irrigation application considerations for container grown plants

The Florida Nursery Best Management Practice for improving irrigation in container grown plants is discussed by Dr. Tom Yeager (University of Florida IFAS Extension) (December 2014)

Considerations for irrigation efficiency

Dr. Tom Yeager (University of Florida IFAS Extension) explains what you need to consider for improving irrigation efficiency. (December 2014)

Ground cover

Dr. Tom Yeager of the University of Florida IFAS Extension explains the Florida Nursery Best Management Practice for using ground covers (December 2014)

Microirrigation application uniformity

Dr. Tom Yeager of the University of Florida IFAS Extension explains the Florida Nursery Best Management Practice for measuring uniformity for microirrigation systems. (December 2014)

Sprinkler irrigation application uniformity

Dr. Tom Yeager of the University of Florida IFAS Extension explains the Florida Nursery Best Management Practice for measuring uniformity for sprinkler irrigation. (December 2014)

BMPs for water conservation

Dr. Tom Yeager, Ph.D. (University of Florida) discusses irrigation system components and plant factors to consider for maximum use of water applied. (29 Nov 2011)

Reducing irrigation quantity and improving water quality to grow better plants

This webinar was presented by Jane Stanley of Saunders Brothers, Inc. Thank you to the Virginia Nursery Landscape Association/Virginia Cooperative Extension (VNLA/VCE). (29 Nov 2011)

Control pH & salts (1)

Water quality issues from a nutritional standpoint

Dr Bill Argo (Blackmore Company) talks about water quality in terms of pH, alkalinity, and fertilizer salts. (December 2010)

Remove nutrients and agrichemicals (2)

Water quality law

Kati Migliaccio (Ph.D) from the University of Florida discusses water quality law and the implications in agriculture. (November 2010)

Ecological approaches to water treatments

Sarah White (Clemson University) and Loren Oki (University of California) discuss the use of constructed wetlands and slow sand filtration systems for treating water. (October 2010)

Remove pathogens and biofilms (14)

Water Reuse and Remediation - Phytophthora

An introduction to agricultural water reuse and remediation, including innovative ecological treatment technologies that have the potential to remediate agricultural contaminants from irrigation runoff water, so that water may be reused onsite. (September 2018)

Agricultural Bioreactors

An introduction to agricultural subsurface bioreactors, which have been proven to significantly reduce nitrate from agricultural runoff and drainage water, and may also serve to remediate plant pathogens like Phytophthora spp. Research from Dr. Sarah White's lab at Clemson University (September 2018)

Baiting Phytopthora

In this video, you will learn a simple but accurate method to bait Phytophthora. Dr. Neelam Redekar from Oregon State University (March 2018)

Designing a water treatment system

Paul Fisher, Ph.D. from the University of Florida discusses the key points on how to design a successful water treatment system that will deliver water at a consistent high quality. (February 2012)

Pros and cons of water disinfection: A European perspective

Walter Wohanka, Ph.D. from the Geisenheim Research Center (Germany), discusses the pros and cons of water treatment techniques use to prevent disease spread through irrigation. (January 2012)

Disinfestants for sanitizing production surfaces

Warren Copes, Ph.D. from USDA discusses alternatives for surface cleaning and sanitation for your greenhouse. Learn how to adjust you the dose of disinfestants by understanding how water properties, materials being sanitized and the treatment process interact with the disinfestants. (USDA does not endorse any of the products mentioned in this presentation). (January 2012)

Pond issues and management

Ken Wagner, Ph.D. from Water Resources Services discusses the problems observed in ponds, the causes of algae problems and the alternative to manage water quality in ponds. (January 2012)

A systems approach for managing Phytophthora diseases in nurseries: the importance of water

Jennifer Parke Ph.D. (Oregon State University) discusses how water management and water treatment fit into a holistic approach for managing nursery plant diseases caused by Phytophthora species. (December 2011)

Biology of waterborne pathogens in nurseries

Gary Chastagner Ph.D (Washington State University) discussed the biology of pathogens found in the water. He described how and where pathogens spread in nurseries. (December 2011)

Avoid spreading disease through your irrigation

Aaron Palmateer (Florida Extension Plant Diagnostic Clinic, Tropical Research and Education Center, University of Florida) discusses the effects of water on plant health, along with information on water molds and bacterial diseases. (June 2010)

Biology of waterborne pathogens

Robert Wick (University of Massachusetts Amherst) describes issues involved with waterborne pathogens in your production system, their biology, and recommendations for their management. (May 2010)

Treatment technologies: choosing sanitizers and the challenge of flood tanks and benches

Paul Fisher (University of Florida) provides information on water quality in floriculture crop production. (June 2009)

Phytophthora test kits

How to use rapid test kits to detect Phytophthora in plant samples. Dr. Neelam Redekar, Joyce Eberhart, and Dr. Jennifer Parke, Oregon State University (7 Dec 2018)

Ecological approaches to water treatments

Sarah White (Clemson University) and Loren Oki (University of California) discuss the use of constructed wetlands and slow sand filtration systems for treating water. (October 2010)

Monitor quality (3)

Remove particles and debris (1)

Water quality law

Kati Migliaccio (Ph.D) from the University of Florida discusses water quality law and the implications in agriculture. (November 2010)