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Demand for Asian vegetables is rising rapidly due to changing demographics and increasing consumer awareness of their health benefits. However, growers are not familiar with growing these "foreign" crops due to insufficient technical information regarding suitable cultivars for different regions, production schedules, disease and pest susceptibility, and postharvest management. The objective of this study was to conduct trials in different production systems and climate regions to demonstrate the potential of growing Asian vegetables in Texas. We conducted preliminary trials of nine leafy greens in the open field, high tunnel, and greenhouse (container and hydroponic production) to explore the suitability and potential for year-round production. We also conducted field trials for warm season crops in the open field in different climate zones. Results indicated that for cool season leafy greens, open field production has a limited growing season, high tunnel has the potential to extend the growing season, while greenhouse may provide year-round production using soilless substrate container culture or hydroponic system. For warm season crops, early planting is recommended for high yield. Additional research is warranted in different regions to test more species and cultivars and optimize the production system of high-performing cultivars to maximize production and profitability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Canola as a biofuel crop was evaluated under freshwater and treated wastewater irrigation. • Canola seed yields did not differ between fresh and wastewater irrigation. • Seed oil content, oil yield, ash, and mineral constituents remained unchanged. • Treated wastewater increased soil salinity and sodicity but less than canola threshold. • Gypsum + sulfur significantly reduced the sodicity hazard of TWW application. Treated urban wastewater (TWW) is seen as a potential alternative for agricultural irrigation in arid west Texas region, due to scarcity of Freshwater (FW) supplies. However, TWW can potentially cause soil salinization and affect soil quality and crop productivity. Therefore, crops that are salt-tolerant and less water-intensive are needed to sustain agriculture in this region. Canola (Brassica napus L.) as an edible oilseed and biodiesel/biofuel crop, is salt-tolerant and relatively less water-intensive than crops that are traditional to this area. This two–year field study evaluated the performance of canola under TWW irrigation in terms of its seed yield potential and seed quality (oil content, oil yield and salt constituents), along with quantifying changes in soil salinity and sodicity. Experimental design included a randomized block split-plot with water quality (FW and TWW) as the main-plot and soil amendment (gypsum + sulfur and no-amendment) as the subplot factor. Results show that TWW application did not significantly affect canola seed yields in any of the two years. On average, seed yields were 1975 kg ha−1 across all treatments and years. Seed oil content, oil yield and mineral constituents were also not affected by TWW irrigation. Nevertheless, average seed oil content was 42 % and oil yield was 849 kg ha−1. Other than the effects on soil salinity and sodicity, Gypsum + Sulfur application did not influence canola seed productivity and quality. Changes in soil salinity and sodicity were more prominent under TWW irrigation but the levels were below the thresholds after two years. Gypsum + Sulfur application significantly reduced soil sodicity, especially in TWW irrigated soils. These results highlight that TWW can be successfully used to grow canola as a biofuel feedstock in this arid region while following appropriate soil management practices to alleviate sodicity hazard of TWW in the long-term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Treated wastewater irrigation effects on bioenergy sorghum and soil quality were tested. • Wastewater irrigation did not affect biomass yields compared to freshwater irrigation. • Holocellulose and lignin contents decreased, and ash content increased over time in biomass. • Soil salinity and sodicity generally increased after wastewater application. • Gypsum and sulfur significantly reduced soil SAR in wastewater treatments. Prolonged drought in arid west Texas has resulted in freshwater scarcities in the Rio Grande basin, forcing growers to abandon agricultural lands. Augmenting freshwater scarcities with marginal quality treated urban wastewater could be an alternative strategy. However, higher salinity in wastewater could be detrimental to crops and soil quality. Therefore, developing information on crops that are salt tolerant and less water-intensive is important to sustain agriculture in this region. Sorghum is both drought and salt-tolerant and could potentially provide revenue due to increasing demand for its lignocellulosic biomass in biofuel industry. This two-year field study evaluated (i) the performance of bioenergy sorghum under wastewater irrigation in terms of its biomass yield potential and biomass quality relative to freshwater irrigation and (ii) wastewater irrigation effects on rootzone soil quality including soil salinity and sodicity. A split-plot experimental design was used with water type (fresh and wastewater) as the main-plot and soil amendments (non-amended and gypsum + sulfur) as the subplot factors. Results show that sorghum biomass yields were not significantly different between fresh and wastewaters in any of the years. Differences in biomass quality were observed overtime but as an indirect consequence of increased soil salinity and/or sodicity after wastewater irrigation. Soil quality changes were apparent with salinity and sodicity increasing over time with irrigation, but this effect was pronounced under wastewater irrigation. Application of gypsum and sulfur was able to significantly reduce soil sodicity, especially in wastewater irrigated plots. The results from this study highlight that treated wastewater can be successfully used to grow bioenergy sorghum in arid regions. However, appropriate soil management practices should be in place to counter the effects of high sodium in wastewater. These results have important implications in diversifying cropping pattern in this region while also help extend freshwater supplies through increased reuse of treated urban wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Freshwater (FW) scarcity as a result of prolonged drought has reduced FW availability to agriculture in the arid west Texas region in order to meet demands from other sectors. Alternatively, there is enormous potential to utilize treated urban wastewater (TWW) for agricultural irrigation. However, the soil salinization potential of TWW is a concern as it can be detrimental to crops and soil quality. Alternative crops that are both less water-intensive and salt-tolerant are therefore needed to sustain this region's agriculture. Switchgrass is a perennial grass that is well adapted to grow on marginal lands and is a novel crop for lignocellulosic bioenergy feedstock. However, its performance when irrigated with TWW on arid soils of far west Texas is largely unknown. This field study evaluated the yield potential and composition of switchgrass biomass as affected by TWW along with soil quality changes, using a split-plot experimental design. Results indicate that biomass yields were not affected by TWW irrigation and there were no significant differences between TWW and FW across years. With respect to biomass composition, cellulose and lignin contents were lower, while ash content was significantly higher in TWW treatment. Theoretical ethanol production was not affected. Soil salinity and sodicity increased overtime but this increase was more prominent under TWW irrigation. However, application of gypsum and sulfur significantly reduced soil sodicity. These results indicate that switchgrass can tolerate soil salinity induced by TWW application and therefore can be successfully grown on these marginal arid soils as a bioenergy feedstock. • Bioenergy switchgrass and soil quality were evaluated under wastewater irrigation. • Biomass yields did not differ significantly between fresh and wastewater irrigation. • Wastewater increased biomass N and ash but decreased cellulose and lignin contents. • Soil salinity and sodicity increased with wastewater but less than switchgrass threshold. • Gypsum and sulfur can negate soil sodicity hazard with wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]