Geothermal Fluids to Irrigate Energy Crops on Imperial East Mesa Desert, California
- Key words
- Direct Use; USA; California; East Mesa; Agriculture; Water Quality; Sugar Beets; Alcohol; Ethel
- Location
- East Mesa, California; Imperial Valley
- Conference
- Geothermal Resources Council Transactions
- Year
- 1981
- Session
- Direct use; Agricultural applications; Water quality; Ecolog
- Language
- English
Abstract
Geothermal fluid at 2,200 parts per million total dissolved solids from the East Mesa, California was compared to 1,400 ppm groundwater from 100 m well as irrigation sources for Beta vulgaris USH-11 sugar beet and Tamarix aphylla athel, a biomass and windbreak tree. In 1980 there was no significant different between the yields form the two waters. In 1981, there was no significant difference between biomass production form the waters on the athel. The geothermal water produced a larger yield of sucrose than the groundwater. The data suggest that raising sugar beets with either water is feasible on the East Mesa.
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