Workshop To Show Water-Saving ideas for San Juan County Gardeners, Growers

Date:  Aug. 4, 1997
Editor: D'Lyn Ford  (505) 646-6528, dlford@nmsu.edu

LAS CRUCES - Water-saving techniques for growing vegetables with limited irrigation will be on display at an Aztec garden workshop Aug. 20.

"Making the most of water is a critical issue for both farmers and homeowner's in San Juan County," said George Dickerson, Extension horticulture specialist with New Mexico State University's Cooperative Extension Service.

"Vegetable crops we've established at a local garden in Aztec have been grown under natural rainfall since they were first irrigated in the spring. Experimental techniques we've used should cut water use 50 to 60 percent or more."

In research plots, Dickerson saved water with a special water-absorbing gel, "green" plant compost from the City of Albuquerque and a woven black plastic mulch. Each plot used a different combination of treatments. Tomato, bell pepper, cantaloupe and cucumber transplants were inserted through the mulch and watered twice. Cooperators at eight sites across the state, including Aztec, assisted with the trials.

"Besides saving water with these techniques, you don't have to weed," Dickerson said. "That means a savings in labor costs, particularly because the plastic mulch will last for years as it contains an ultraviolet light inhibitor."

Growers and gardeners are welcome at the free Extension workshop, which is co-sponsored by the City of Albuquerque, Soilutions and Western Polyacrylamide Inc.

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. at 608 N. White Avenue, the home of Darrell Rothlisberger, San Juan County Extension 4-H agent. The garden is three-tenths of a mile east of Main Avenue on the Durango highway (Aztec Boulevard). Turn right on Piflon and right on White Avenue.

Along with the vegetable techniques, presenters will cover agronomic drought management practices. For more information, contact Dickerson at (505) 275-2576 or the San Juan County Extension office at (505) 334-9496.

If you are an individual with a disability who is in need of an auxiliary aid or service to participate in these meetings, please call the contact person for the event two weeks in advance.