Archive Article: 1998/01/09
HYDRILLA, an aquatic plant, which can grow 250mm (10in) a day during peak during its growing season, has become the bane of keeping irrigation canals open. Dense tangled masses of Hydrilla can totally clog irrigation water and drainage channels.
Research by the Environmental Resources Section of the Imperial Irrigation District has developed a sterile variety of a fish, Triploid Grass Carp, which thus far, shows great promise in water weed abatement.
White Fly.
IN what might be termed a modern day biblical scourge for Imperial farmers, crop damage from this pest was about £26m in 1993. No known pesticide has yet been able to completely control the insect. Partial control has been achieved by a change in planting practices. A reduction in autumn Cantaloupe acreage has helped, since it is one of the major host plants.
SOMEFACTSANDFIGURES
Out of a total of 174,000ha (430,000 acres) of field crops, the most popular ones were:
(000)haacres
Alfalfa65.0161.0
Wheat44.6110.0
Sudan Grass34.785.9
Sugar beet17.042.0
Cotton3.27.8
Permanent 1.94.9crops (eg citrus fruits, pecans, asparagus, fish farms, ornamental trees).