Water usage trends in Australian protected cropping

Protected cropping is the practice of growing plants under controlled, primarily indoor environments. It enables farmers to create ideal conditions under which to grow specific vegetables, fruits or other crops.

As the flora within protected cropping facilities are not exposed to natural rainfall, farmers need polyethylene water storage tanks to control soil moisture levels. An agriculturalist's goal is to provide the exact amount of water a particular plant will need to grow optimally.

Protected cropping as whole

According to Protected Cropping Australia (PCA), the industry is growing rapidly. Businesses operating greenhouses and other similar growing facilities are producing $1.8 billion annually, accounting for about 20 per cent of total vegetable and cut flower output.

South Australia and New South Wales have the largest protected cropping economies. PCA noted these markets have 580 hectares (ha) and 500 ha of greenhouse space, respectively. 

One of the many reasons why farmers are investing in greenhouses is because such facilities enable them to produce a greater number of high quality crops. In addition, protected cropping facilities can make the most out of scarce resources.

Water usage trends 

Although many greenhouses use more water than fields, they have higher production rates per megalitres. For example, although indoor tomato growing facilities use 182 per cent more water than tomato fields, they out-produce fields by about 31.5 tonnes. 

Hydroponics, a method that involves growing plants in aquatic environments devoid of soil, is becoming more popular among protected cropping practitioners. According to a joint report by The Pratt Foundation and the International Specialised Skills Institute, the capital costs associated with hydroponics are quite large, but investors typically experience returns of between 20 and 25 per cent.

This ROI makes sense, given that hydroponics expedites plant growth and increases their sellable features.

Farmers managing greenhouses or other protected environments should consider buying water tanks resilient to Australia's harsh conditions. Procuring durable assets can reduce operational costs, thus positively impacting profits.