University of Arizona researchers test new ways to grow lettuce with less water
University of Arizona researchers are testing natural plant additives called biostimulants to help lettuce farms in Yuma grow more crops with less water during the peak growing season. The research comes as drought threatens the Colorado River, Arizona’s primary water source. Yuma County supplies about 90% of the leafy greens Americans eat from November through March. … [Assistant Professor Ali] Mohammed found that pairing biostimulants with smart irrigation sensors and organic farming techniques significantly boosted crop yields. He estimates this combination could allow Yuma’s organic farms to skip a few watering cycles during the growing season, potentially saving 1 to 2 inches of water per acre.
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