This project is evaluating and comparing the effectiveness of current and alternative irrigation water disinfestation methods so that guidelines on their use can be provided to the Australian nursery industry.

Water quality is a key issue as many production nurseries irrigate with water either sourced from open water systems or recycled and reused. This introduces significant risk from fungal and bacterial plant diseases that are spread in infested irrigation water. A variety of different disinfection systems are used within the industry, but a high level of uncertainty exists around the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of current and alternative irrigation water disinfection practices, some of which are new technology.

This project will support the Australian production nursery industry in cost effectively managing these risks through three key areas of research:

A review of the available mainstream, alternative and emerging water disinfection methods used by the nursery industry and conduct a gap analysis to identify methods where evaluation of efficacy is required.

Evaluation and comparison of the efficacy and crop safety of the water disinfection methods identified in the gap analysis, providing detailed information on the contact time, dose response, residual concentration, cost and benefit.

Collaboration with Greenlife Industry Australia to update the Nursery Industry Water Management Best Practice Guidelines and NIASA Best Management Practice Guidelines.