UOG Extension put together a two-part training covering the principles and benefits of micro-irrigation systems and an installation demonstration for CIS to then implement throughout their entire nursery. CIS, through its Island Conservation Lab and Guam Green Growth (G3) initiative, manages the largest nursery at UOG, containing numerous native plants that are important to the island’s ecosystem and culture, including many that are used medicinally in traditional CHamoru healing practices.

“The CIS nursery grows native plants that are used for forest and watershed restoration projects, endangered plant recovery projects, and åmot, or traditional medicine. It holds approximately 72 native plants, with the capacity for more than 3,000 plants, and as it’s grown, we’ve found that the current system of manual watering has become time-consuming and inefficient,” said Else Demeulenaere, associate director of natural resources for CIS.

 

Benefits of micro-irrigation systems

After taking a class taught by Extension Agent and Assistant Professor of Horticulture Joseph Tuquero, Aubrie Uson, a research associate with the Island Conservation Lab, sought the expertise of the sustainable horticulture and natural resources experts under UOG’s Land Grant.

“Watering by hand can take over two hours, and the plants still need to be watered at least twice a day,” Uson said.

On Feb. 12, Tuquero and Extension Agent Roland Quitugua taught the nursery team about common irrigation methods and different kinds of micro-irrigation systems, which are low-pressure, low-flow irrigation systems that deliver water straight to plant roots, minimizing water loss through evaporation.

“Large plant nurseries benefit from an irrigation system, as it conserves water and also gives staff the time to engage in other important projects and activities,” Tuquero said.

A timed irrigation system not only saves the user’s time and labor, but it can also benefit water availability for the island as a whole.

“Using automation, irrigation can be set to run during low water-demand times, reducing the demand on the municipal water system during peak hours, when residents need adequate water pressure,” Quitugua said.

They then assessed the nursery with the CIS crew, taking into consideration the types of plants being grown, the amount of wind and sun exposure, and the soil types and got to work building the start of a system for their nursery.

 

Making conservation sustainable

With these skills in hand, the CIS team will be better able to care for the native and endemic plant species in its nursery. Uson said the crew plans to install irrigation system in all three of their nurseries.

“Our crew really enjoyed the training,” Demeulenaere said. “Implementing these skills is crucial for making conservation sustainable and effective. We are grateful Joe and Roland offered it to our crew, and we hope to continue our collaboration.”

A new irrigation system to support the success and possible expansion of the nursery is mutually beneficial to the work of UOG’s Land Grant as well. One key objective of the Land Grant is to build human capacity in the areas of agriculture and natural resources management through its B.S. in Agriculture & Life Sciences and M.S. in Sustainable Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources degree programs. The CIS nursery has been a valuable learning facility for students in these programs.

“I have been taking my classes to visit the CIS nursery and learn about different aspects of horticulture and natural resources,” Tuquero said. “The management and operation of the CIS plant nursery is awesome. It’s a pleasant site — well tended to, and sanitation is clearly a priority. Cross-training opportunities like these are important, especially when it advances local expertise and skills that directly impact the natural resources of our island.”

As they work to educate the community in responsible land use and the importance of a native and biodiverse ecosystem, CIS and UOG Extension both hope to continue collaborating and cross-training with other units and programs throughout UOG and the island as a whole.

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To learn more about setting up a micro-irrigation system and other matters of sustainable horticulture and plant production, please contact the Agriculture & Natural Resources office under UOG Extension at (671) 735-2080, email anr-ceo@triton.uog.edu, or follow UOG Extension on Facebook or Instagram.

 To learn more about native plants and their cultural and ecological uses, contact the Island Conservation Lab at the UOG Center for Island Sustainability at (671) 735-2018, or follow @uogcis.islandconservationlab on Instagram or visit UOG CIS Island Conservation Lab on Facebook.