July 30-August 3, Washington DC
US: An examination of the issues surrounding the future of water scarcity
Among the featured categories up for presentation are how to more efficiently irrigate plants at home and in commercial greenhouses, using sand filters in landscaping, where water reduction will become helpful, converting to recycled water, and the economics and the situation.
The American Society for Horticultural Science hosts its international conference every summer offering an illuminating exchange of ideas and methodology that is critical to those working in the various fields of horticultural science and its education. But the sessions are also accessible to interested non-scientists who generally discover an importance tied to the information being exchanged. This year, the conference takes place in Washington, DC, from July 30 to August 3 at the Washington Hilton.
Arguably one of the largest issues facing the inhabitants of planet Earth in the years ahead concerns the adequate supply of potable water as we edge toward a looming future where that water appears to be insufficient in the face of a ballooning global population. And if we are to maintain greenspaces and help so many urban settings thrive with necessary plant life, irrigation resources need thoughtful consideration also. After all, water and plant life are both necessary to prolong sustainability on our planet.
Congregating in the International Ballroom West at the Washington Hilton on July 31 at 3:15pm, attendees will learn about The Economics of Water Use, https://ashs.confex.com/ashs/2018/meetingapp.cgi/Session/8981, a presentation informed by a study conducted by the economics team of the Clean WateR3 grant project that delved into understanding the cost impact of using alternative materials as a departure from traditional irrigation, what long-held cultural practices prevent the adoption of newer and more-efficient techniques, and the extent to which fiscal savings can be realized by converting to more careful management practices and reduced inputs.
On August 1 at 10 am, there will be an examination of the practices of irrigating with recycled water, https://ashs.confex.com/ashs/2018/meetingapp.cgi/Session/8983. Recycled water may not be advised as clean drinking water, but it may productively serve to benefit plants. It was studied as reclaimed runoff and as untreated municipal water, and its use could extend the available of otherwise sourced drinking water as well as serve to be a cost-reduction factor.
And, on August 2, beginning at 10:15 am, an array of sessions will showcase an abundance of viewpoints and methods that will shine a light on how we can apply better practices and contribute to the hope of a more sustainable future, https://ashs.confex.com/ashs/2018/meetingapp.cgi/Session/8982.