Estimating Water Use by Green Industry Activities in Texas, Poster Board #183

Green industry (nursery, greenhouse, sod, landscaping) in Texas rank as the second most important agricultural activity, with an estimated (in 2008) economic output of $1.99 billion at the farm, and a total of $14.9 billion (including all associated services, goods and products) and $8.4 billion in value-added impacts, plus the generation of >170,000 jobs. It is a fact that the production and landscape maintenance of ornamental plants is characterized the use of massive inputs of water, fertilizers, chemicals and labor. Dwindling water supplies, severe droughts, water competition and pollution concerns significantly challenges the future of these activities. In order to appreciate the potential impact of these water issues on green industry activities, federal and state census data and statistics, as well as pertinent irrigation literature were consulted to estimate the acreage and potential water use by ornamental plant production (nursery, greenhouse, sod) and managed golf courses and landscapes in Texas. There are 24,300 hectares of ornamental plant production, 60,700 hectares of golf courses and 486,000 hectares of managed landscapes/lawns. With irrigation rates averaging 2,134 mm, 914 mm and 914 mm per year for ornamental plant production, golf courses and landscapes, respectively, all these activities sum a total annual water use of 555,000 hectare-meter. As a point of comparison, the state has 2,226,000 hectares of irrigated (agronomic) crops (significantly dwindling over time), which represent an annual water use of 987,000 hectare-meter (432 mm per year).  This information could serve as a baseline reference to set goals when drawing best management and water conservation practices that increase water use efficiency, and minimize pollution potential, while helping sustaining these green industries and their overall economic and societal benefits.