There are a number of ways in which efficient irrigation layouts save water. Matching the Mean Application Rate (MAR) to the absorption rate of the growing media can help to decrease water use by minimising the water lost through leaching. If water is applied at a rate that exceeds the absorption rate of the growing media, the excess water can’t be taken up, and flows through the growing media and out of the container. The following comparison gives an example of water savings that are possible when the MAR is matched to the growing media absorption rate.