In Southern Manitoba, potato producers are experiencing wetter and drier conditions within the soil profile during the growing season leading to poor quality and inconsistent yields. Russet Burbank Potato cultivar was grown in Southern Manitoba on fine sandy loam soil in a two year (2013-2014) study using two water management treatments: (i) overhead irrigation and (ii) no-irrigation. The main objectives of the study were (i) to assess the impact of overhead irrigation on water table depth and potato yield (ii) to estimate the shallow groundwater contribution to potato water requirement through upward flux (iii) to track the nitrogen dynamics within the potato root-zone under overhead irrigation and no-irrigation scenarios (iv) to examine the effects of no-irrigation and overhead irrigation system at critical growth stages on marketable yield and quality of potatoes. In 2013, water was applied using a linear move irrigation system and in 2014 a rain gun irrigation system was used for the irrigated treatment. Volumetric soil water content, precipitation, irrigation depth, water table depth, nitrate concentration and electrical conductivity in potato root-zone, groundwater electrical conductivity, weather variables, total potato yield, marketable yield, and quality parameters were measured. The total yield was not significantly different between the two treatments in both years. The marketable yield of the irrigated treatment (36.89 MT/ha) was 20% higher (p = 0.017) compared to the non-irrigated treatment (30.74 MT/ha) in 2013. However, no significant difference was found between the irrigated (39.0 MT/ha) and non-irrigated (43.7 MT/ha) treatments in 2014. Potato yields from both treatments were significantly correlated with the average groundwater depth. Water balance analysis within the root-zone during rainy and rain-free periods showed that nitrate rich groundwater may have contributed to some of the crop water demand. The lack of rainfall and high temperature during tuber initiation and tuber bulking stages resulted in the accumulation of high concentration of nitrates within the root-zone by the late release of nitrates from the polymer-coated urea and the upward migration of groundwater containing 55 ppm and 70 ppm of nitrates in the 2013 and 2014 growing seasons, respectively. Overhead irrigation was found to be economically advantageous to produce better quality potatoes with higher marketable yields.

Ozonation has been utilized for water treatment for over 100 years. During that time, the range of applications has grown considerably, and includes the remediation of nursery and greenhouse irrigation water. Ozone is dissolved into irrigation water to kill pathogens and degrade chemical contaminants. By convention, growers remove ozone from solutions, prior to distribution to the crop, to avoid phytotoxic effects. The available literature regarding aqueous ozone (O3(aq)) phytotoxicity is limited, making this a sagacious practice, although the removal does preclude any ancillary benefits beyond the point of treatment. The effects of applying O3(aq) under two irrigation systems are examined. Initial studies suggested O3(aq) concentrations as high as 20 mg⋅L-1 could be applied directly to mineral wool substrate in a limited (one time) fashion without a negative response. To be effective as a remediation tool, however, ozone would need to be applied more frequently (e.g. daily). The effects of daily O3(aq) application, via drip irrigation in mineral wool hydroponic tomato culture, was examined. In the first of two studies, daily applications of 3.0 mg⋅L-1 O3(aq) elicited an overall positive growth response. In a follow-up study, 6.0 mg L-1 elicited a negative response. Nursery operators often utilize overhead irrigation. A study was conducted to determine if overhead irrigation utilizing O3(aq) was compatible with select woody perennial nursery species. The amount of ozone lost from solution during application was examined, as well as crop response to the ozone environment generated. It was shown that 60 to 70% of the ozone was unaccounted for at canopy level, while phytotoxic effects were elicited at emitter concentrations above 1.5 mg L-1. Marchantia polymorpha is a significant weed species in greenhouse and nursery production; a species with few control options. Anatomical features of M. polymorpha suggested sensitivity to O3(aq). Studies were performed to examine contact time (CT) and exposure frequencies required for M. polymorpha suppression. A CT of 0.84 mg⋅L-1⋅min at an application frequency of 3-times/week achieved measurable suppression. / Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSEARC); Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA); Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE); Purification Research Technologies INC (PRTI); Flowers Canada (Ontario).