Articles
Exploring conflicting use levels and perceived benefits of automated irrigation by US nursery operators
Article number
1468_61
Pages
473 – 480
Language
English
Abstract
In 2021, a transdisciplinary team conducted a comprehensive survey of nursery labor and automation levels along with related factors for the 2020 production year to better understand how existing irrigation practices and systems influence producers’ perceptions and adoption of automation technologies amid a persistent labor shortage and rising labor costs.
Data were analyzed by production type and by using nursery sales to categorize nursery size.
Timer-based irrigation controllers were adopted at higher levels at container nurseries (69%) than field nurseries (32%; P≤0.021). Large nurseries adopted these controllers more (78% of the sample) than small nurseries (52%; P=0.001). Respondents indicated that the only barrier to automated irrigation adoption was that they have “no interest/need” (P=0.018) for the technology, despite recognizing that automated irrigation technologies have the potential to reduce labor costs (4.1/5.0 perceived helpfulness scale). Concerns about compatibility, including anticipated disruption to current operations and producers valuing being “hands-on”, have been identified as potential barriers and are discussed along with the importance of relating labor savings to opportunity cost.
Data were analyzed by production type and by using nursery sales to categorize nursery size.
Timer-based irrigation controllers were adopted at higher levels at container nurseries (69%) than field nurseries (32%; P≤0.021). Large nurseries adopted these controllers more (78% of the sample) than small nurseries (52%; P=0.001). Respondents indicated that the only barrier to automated irrigation adoption was that they have “no interest/need” (P=0.018) for the technology, despite recognizing that automated irrigation technologies have the potential to reduce labor costs (4.1/5.0 perceived helpfulness scale). Concerns about compatibility, including anticipated disruption to current operations and producers valuing being “hands-on”, have been identified as potential barriers and are discussed along with the importance of relating labor savings to opportunity cost.
Authors
A. Fulcher, A.L. Rihn, M. Velandia, L.A. Warner, A.V. LeBude, J.E. Altland, S. Schexnayder, J.S. Owen, K. McKim
Keywords
barriers to adoption, cooperative extension system, diffusion of innovations, motivators to adoption, nursery crops production, workforce scarcity
Groups involved
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