What solutions for farmers faced with the lack of water? The stakes are now crucial, in this year of historic drought and while France is hosting the International Congress of Horticulture, the largest global event devoted to plants. specialized »: from ornaments to fruits and vegetables, including seeds. Around 2,000 scientists are discussing water management and other indirect techniques, among other things.
Like many scientists, the Italian researcher Brunella Morandi has studied for many years how to irrigate in a reasoned way or recover wastewater. But recently, she has also been interested in the exposure of crops to the sun:
” We discovered that most often, especially in the European countries of the Mediterranean basin, the sunshine was too much for the orchards. Plants sweat a lot. Shading them limits the phenomenon of evapotranspiration, without reducing photosynthesis. It’s another strategy. »
Educate the plant to the lack of water
Paying attention to the plant is also educate him about the lack of water so that it goes to look for it as far as possible, underground, with its roots. Dominique Lamy is landscape manager at the Terra Botanica park in Anger, where he designed a garden without irrigation three years ago:
” In fact, it’s neither more nor less getting them used to a situation which is a bit difficult, it will find its solution by searching, by developing its root system. But what is really very important is that it has to be done from an early age, that means that the plant, when you put the seed, that it will start to grow, it is where all the work is done and remembered, the plant will adapt. She will have to, otherwise she will die. »
A technique already known in the south of France and which is now of interest to British farmers, concerned about future droughts.
►Also listen: In the spotlight: in France, a historic drought