Modes of Greenhouse Water Savings

As the global population rapidly increases, the need for bolstering worldwide food security is paramount. Scaling up food production to meet the needs of the growing population will strain the world's water supplies, which are already threatened by climate change. Agricultural technologies such as greenhouses are effective in conserving water while simultaneously enhancing agricultural productivity. Quantifying and understanding the modes through which greenhouses reduce water usage can help farmers make strategic changes to their horticultural practices so as to increase crop yields while conserving water. This article describes and quantifies the four primary modes of greenhouse water savings, and provides a simplified model for calculating the long-term water savings potential of a greenhouse using easily measurable data.