In the closed insulated pallet system (CIPS), movement of applied plant fertilizer protected within the root zone from evaporative and gravitational water flow pathways can be predicted by Fick's Laws of Diffusion. Ion diffusion will occur in the absence of plant uptake, but rapid plant uptake will increase the rate of diffusion. Water moves upward into the plant rootzone from a subirrigation reservoir by capillary and absorptive forces to achieve equilibrium; further capillary flow of water occurs in response to plant root uptake. Plant growth in the CIPS has been equal or greater in CIPS compared with plant growth in a sprinkler irrigated open container system (OCS). Water uptake in CIPS has been 10% of that applied in the OCS. Plant uptake of fertilizer in CIPS has been 0.1 - 1.0 gram of nitrogen per 3 liter-container plant per year; this is less than 10% of the fertilizer applied to plants in OCS. The closed, insulated, pallet system (CIPS) was designed to address the major challenges to container production:

1. Reduce inputs and waste discharge of resources such as water, fertilizers and other agricultural chemicals, energy.
2. Prevent root temperature extremes that occur in containers during high sunlight and winter low temperature periods.
3. Enhance pest management; decrease chemical pesticide dependency.
4. Labor, - increase year-round uniform labor demand, decrease manual, minimum wage tasks, enhance working conditions.
5. Increase transportation and handling efficiency.
6. Facilitate use of saline irrigation water.