JennaSais t1_j1v7ftp wrote
When growing plants in the desert for agricultural purposes, it seems the water you would need to grow them well would be a major concern. Are these plants being bioengineered to require less water, primarily? What about the nutrition the plant needs? How are those needs being addressed and what challenges are particular to the desert environment vs. an environment with loamy soil?
IsraelinSF t1_j1vlumg wrote
Water is a big concern for desert plants. The challenges they encounter include lack of water and nutrients, but also high temperatures. This is addressed in three manners: agrotech, genetics of the crop, and knowledge that has been gathered over years. Plants won’t grow without water, so water-use efficiency is crucial. However, some plants require a lot of water. One glass of wine needs 40L of water. One date needs 20 to 40L. In Israel today with desalination and intelligent water use, lack of water is no longer a big problem, but we still must think about these factors. These are challenges we face and think about on a daily basis.
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