New technique to halve water needs

06 May 1999

New technique to halve water needs

SCIENTISTS at CSIRO, the Australian national research institute, have developed a technique that could halve the water needed to irrigate vines and other crops.

They say the technique, called partial root drying, has no impact on yield and can actually improve the quality of the grapes.

The irrigation method involves the installation of two irrigation drip lines rather than one.

Watering on just one side at a time appears to cause biochemical changes in the vine, which reduces the amount of water the plant needs.

Researchers have also used to technique on fruit trees with promising results.

• Financial Times 06/05/99 page 18 (Technology Worth Watching)