Elche City Council launched a one-hectare sunflower planting experiment in the Vinalopó riverbed between the Paredes factory and the Pont de la Generalitat, using reclaimed water from the Algorós wastewater treatment plant. This is an unprecedented project. Councillor Claudio Guilabert stated that the project will expand to include more orchards next year, with goals including agriculturalising historic orchards, fostering the circular economy, and beautifying the peri-urban landscape. The proposal isn’t the first time such an idea has been suggested this term. A few days ago, the 24,000 marigolds planted in the Hort de Malena and destined for the traditional Battle of Flowers at the August Festival were displayed.
With a mere outlay of 50 euros for the seeds, they planted more than 100,000 sunflowers. “We have planted something very new in our municipality, something that has never been seen before,” Guilabert noted. The Wastewater Treatment Plant pumps reclaimed water through a pipeline for their “irrigation.” This year, once authorisation is obtained from the Júcar Hydrographic Confederation (CHJ), the pipeline will be extended to the left bank of the Vinalopó to take advantage of Acequia Mayor del. The councillor expressed hope that by next year, this water will be available in the gardens of Pastoret, Mareta, and Fillet de Fora, where sunflowers will be planted. In addition to cleanup, clearing, and recovering dead pine trees, municipal brigades would carry out this action.
Insects and birds
The councillor discovered another motive for this action: the rehabilitation of wild habitats, which benefits both flora and animals, such as insects that pollinate and birds who eat the seeds. “It demonstrates this Government’s commitment to maintaining this agricultural landscape,” repeated the minister. The programme includes not only sunflowers and marigolds but also the possibility of expanding the decoration of urban gardens by planting forage species such as alfalfa and cereals and provided an example of the Virgen de la Virgen garden, where the vegetation grows to nearly two metres in height in just one year. Moreover, the plans call for local ranchers and farmers to collaborate on these projects to optimise crop yield, and they have already signed agreements with associations.
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