BajaNomad

Desal water on crops?

Cardon Man - 3-23-2010 at 08:43 AM

Is anyone in Baja using water produced via reverse osmosis desalination to irrigate food crops?

Mexitron - 3-23-2010 at 10:28 AM

That'd be pretty expensive water I would imagine. The fish camps on the islands use it for all their water needs but not for crops. The Germans were doing work on solar desal at P. San Carlos but don't know if they are still there.

irenemm - 3-23-2010 at 02:31 PM

Most of the farmers here in Vicente Guerrero and Camalu, San quintin have used that for years. They are pretty happy with all the rain this year even with all the trouble it has caused. they say so what we have water next year and not have to use the desal plants.
this is where most of the strawberries and other berries are grown.
Driscolls has a hugh warehouse here and many growners.
it is very expensive they have said but that is the cost of growning

Bajahowodd - 3-23-2010 at 03:08 PM

I am of the understanding that de-sal water contains a significant amount of residual salt, that ultimately could spoil the soil. I may be wrong on this, but, when one considers the spectrum of water from natural rainfall, all the way down to desalinition, Drinking it is probably ok. But the ongoing use of it for agriculture may very well result in stunted crops. Anyone out there that can set me straight on this?

Cardon Man - 3-23-2010 at 03:16 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
I am of the understanding that de-sal water contains a significant amount of residual salt, that ultimately could spoil the soil. I may be wrong on this, but, when one considers the spectrum of water from natural rainfall, all the way down to desalinition, Drinking it is probably ok. But the ongoing use of it for agriculture may very well result in stunted crops. Anyone out there that can set me straight on this?


Yeah, That's what I was thinking. Curious to hear if it's been done succesfully. However, according to irenemm it's being done in San Quintin. Hopefully others will chime in.

capt. mike - 3-23-2010 at 03:17 PM

http://www.environmentalleader.com/2010/03/22/salt-water-con...

DianaT - 3-23-2010 at 03:23 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Cardon Man
Yeah, That's what I was thinking. Curious to hear if it's been done succesfully. However, according to irenemm it's being done in San Quintin. Hopefully others will chime in.


They have had a water shortage in the San Quintin valley for many, years----ground water became quite saline. So the large farmers there have been using desal for many years. The tomatoes and berries seem happy.

From what I have been told, they have researched it very well in places like the Canary Islands. Just a guess on my part, but I imagine a lot does depend on the process used.

Bajahowodd - 3-23-2010 at 03:31 PM

Thanks, capt. mike, but the fundamental issue is whether de sal water, while potable, contains too many salts. I am borderline ignorant on this topic. But, it just seems to me that de-sal water, if it should still contain a level of salt that could do harm. People should work on doing something better. Seriously, in many places on this earth, de-sal water is a godsend. It represents the difference between living or dying for the parched. What I'm concerned about is whether we might foul our growing fields with its use. Because, in the end, if we rob our agricultural lands of the ability to produce at their maximum, starvation may ensue.

Bajahowodd - 3-23-2010 at 03:33 PM

Except that R/O is not the only technology being employed.