Citation:
J.W. Knox, E.W. Weatherhead and J.A. Rodriguez-Diaz, Assessing optimum
irrigation water use: additional agricultural and non-agricultural sectors.
Science Report – SC040008/S
Abstract:
The Water Act (2003) and its preceding legislation requires the Environment
Agency to assess and justify authorisations for irrigation abstraction, whether
for agricultural, horticultural, amenity, sports turf or other use. A previous
study, Optimum use of water for industry and agriculture (W6-056), has provided
a framework for assessing the ‘optimum’ or ‘reasonable’ needs of a wide range of
crops. In this study, water use was analysed for a range of other agricultural
and non-agricultural sectors dependent on irrigation, but not included in the
W6-056 study. These include some sectors where new authorisations for trickle
will be required, as well as for existing and new spray irrigation abstractions.
The sectors considered include golf courses, racecourses, turf production, frost
protection, horticultural nursery stock, pot plant and bedding plant production
and glasshouse pro
