At the Soil and Water Management & Crop Nutrition Laboratory of the IAEA in Seibersdorf, south of Vienna, the soil and agricultural water specialists are using a range of nuclear tests to provide the scientific knowledge-base for drip irrigation, a technique that aims to deliver water close to the plant root area where the plant can benefit from every drop of water applied. This cost-effective technique can reduce water use by 50 percent, compared to other forms of irrigation. It needs less fertilizer, less manpower and also improves the quality of the plants.