Irrigation Management Tools for Developing Orchards. Allan Fulton UC Farm Advisor Tehama, Glenn, Colusa, and Shasta Counties

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1 Irrigation Management Tools for Developing Orchards Allan Fulton UC Farm Advisor Tehama, Glenn, Colusa, and Shasta Counties 1

2 Growing Walnuts in the northern Sacramento Valley inches annual rainfall 3 6 inches of rain may fall after leafout Later leafing varieties (Chandler, Howard, Tulare) 80 percent of fruit and nut crops irrigated with rotator mini sprinklers, fan jets, drip, or buried drip methods Growing walnuts on soils once deemed unsuitable and more challenging 2

3 What is irrigation management? Making decisions about when to irrigate and how much water to apply Understanding how well an irrigation system is performing and fixing it as needed Attention to water placement, infiltration, and drainage Choosing among different tools and applying at least one of them to help with management decisions 3

4 Why focus on developing orchards? Data: Lampinen et. al

5 Prevent fall frost and winter cold injury 5

6 Learning Opportunity in Tehama County ( ) Mature Trees 2 nd Eddy Covariance Site 6th leaf trees 5th leaf trees 2nd leaf trees 3rd leaf trees 1 st leaf trees 4th leaf trees 1 st leaf trees 6

7 Opportunity to assess water use in developing orchards 1 st leaf 2 repetitions 2 nd leaf 3 repetitions 3 rd leaf 3 repetitions 4 th leaf 3 repetitions 5 th leaf 3 repetitions 6 th leaf or older 4 repetitions 7

8 Extent of soil variability 8

9 Tools used to learn about irrigation of developing orchards 9

10 Evaluating soil moisture with a soil auger Sandier More Clay Wetter Drier 10

11 Plant cameras 11

12 Weekly measurement of orchard water status (pressure chamber, midday SWP) 12

13 Average monthly growth of pruned shoots (cm) A working knowledge of the pressure chamber and Stem Water Potential concepts and guidelines 45 Growth not expected. Lag time to stimulate growth. >12 inches/mo 6 inches/mo Midday stem water potential (SWP) - bars

14 Weekly measurement of soil moisture depletion (Neutron Probe Moisture Meter) 14

15 4/15 4/25 5/5 5/15 5/25 6/4 6/14 6/24 7/4 7/14 7/24 8/3 8/13 8/23 9/2 9/12 9/22 10/2 10/12 10/22 11/1 11/11 Soil water content (in/ft) A working knowledge of soil moisture depletion concepts Soil Texture Field capacity Wilting Point (Inches/ft of soil) Available Water Capacity Sandy loam Fine sandy loam Loam Silt loam Clay loam Clay % Depletion inches 18 inches 30 inches 42 inches 54 inches 66 inches 15

16 Neutron Probe Moisture Meter 16

17 Flow meters and rain gauges 17

18 Kept irrigation records (a water budget) Water supplies Dormant season soil storage In-season rainfall Water losses Evapotranspiration (ETc) Inefficiencies Irrigation 18

19 Experience with the pressure chamber and 1 st leaf orchards 19

20 Midday Stem Water Potential (-bars) 4/1 4/8 4/15 4/22 4/29 5/6 5/13 5/20 5/27 6/3 6/10 6/17 6/24 7/1 7/8 7/15 7/22 7/29 8/5 8/12 8/19 8/26 9/2 9/9 9/16 9/23 9/30 10/7 10/14 10/21 10/28 11/4 11/11 Results with 1 st leaf orchards Two 1.0 gph emitters per tree From planting in March to late May, relied on rainfall or occasional irrigation, six hour set, Orchard Readings Fully Irrigated Baseline 20

21 Midday Stem Water Potential (-bars) 4/1 4/8 4/15 4/22 4/29 5/6 5/13 5/20 5/27 6/3 6/10 6/17 6/24 7/1 7/8 7/15 7/22 7/29 8/5 8/12 8/19 8/26 9/2 9/9 9/16 9/23 9/30 10/7 10/14 10/21 10/28 11/4 11/11 Results with the pressure chamber in 1 st leaf orchards Two 1.0 gph emitters per tree Beginning late May irrigated 1.0 hour each day, 4 or 5 days per week, skipping Sundays Orchard Readings Fully Irrigated Baseline 21

22 Midday Stem Water Potential (-bars) 4/1 4/8 4/15 4/22 4/29 5/6 5/13 5/20 5/27 6/3 6/10 6/17 6/24 7/1 7/8 7/15 7/22 7/29 8/5 8/12 8/19 8/26 9/2 9/9 9/16 9/23 9/30 10/7 10/14 10/21 10/28 11/4 11/11 Experience with 1 st leaf orchards Two 1.0 gph emitters per tree Continued irrigating 4 or 5 days per week, skipping Sundays. Gradually increased run time up to 2.0 hours per day Orchard Readings Fully Irrigated Baseline 22

23 Midday Stem Water Potential (-bars) 4/1 4/8 4/15 4/22 4/29 5/6 5/13 5/20 5/27 6/3 6/10 6/17 6/24 7/1 7/8 7/15 7/22 7/29 8/5 8/12 8/19 8/26 9/2 9/9 9/16 9/23 9/30 10/7 10/14 10/21 10/28 11/4 11/11 Experience with 1 st leaf orchards Two 1.0 gph emitters per tree Continued irrigating 5 days each week, skipping Sundays. Gradually increased run time up to 3 hours per day Orchard Readings Fully Irrigated Baseline 23

24 Midday Stem Water Potential (-bars) 4/1 4/8 4/15 4/22 4/29 5/6 5/13 5/20 5/27 6/3 6/10 6/17 6/24 7/1 7/8 7/15 7/22 7/29 8/5 8/12 8/19 8/26 9/2 9/9 9/16 9/23 9/30 10/7 10/14 10/21 10/28 11/4 11/11 Experience with 1 st leaf orchards Purposely began to reduce irrigation frequency in September Goal: Use deep stored water and develop deeper root system Orchard Readings Fully Irrigated Baseline Goal: Harden off green shoots 24

25 Experience with monitoring soil moisture depletion in 1 st leaf orchards 25

26 5/1/2011 5/8/2011 5/15/2011 5/22/2011 5/29/2011 6/5/2011 6/12/2011 6/19/2011 6/26/2011 7/3/2011 7/10/2011 7/17/2011 7/24/2011 7/31/2011 8/7/2011 8/14/2011 8/21/2011 8/28/2011 9/4/2011 9/11/2011 9/18/2011 9/25/ /2/ /9/ /16/20 10/23/20 10/30/20 Soil water content (inches per 5 feet) 5/1/2011 5/8/2011 5/15/2011 5/22/2011 5/29/2011 6/5/2011 6/12/2011 6/19/2011 6/26/2011 7/3/2011 7/10/2011 7/17/2011 7/24/2011 7/31/2011 8/7/2011 8/14/2011 8/21/2011 8/28/2011 9/4/2011 9/11/2011 9/18/2011 9/25/ /2/ /9/ /16/ /23/ /30/2011 Soil water content (inches per 2 feet) Soil moisture levels in two foot soil profile Field Capacity percent Depletion Wilting Point Soil moisture levels in five foot soil profile

27 Lessons learned with 1 st leaf trees Terrace soils, lower quality, less forgiving Placement of water important when root is small After planting, trees more responsive to higher frequency, shorter irrigation sets As trees grow, root system expands Better use of deeper soil moisture in latter half of season #1, placement not as critical Progression with irrigation methods and placement of water 27

28 Irrigation & Rainfall Records for1 st Leaf Walnuts Year 2011 (Rep 1) 2011 (Rep II) In-season Rainfall (in.) Drip Irrig. (in.) Soil Moisture Depletion (in.) Total (in.)

29 Experience in 2 nd to 4th leaf orchards 29

30 Experience in 2 nd to 4th leaf orchards 1st Leaf 7.2 % PAR (+/- 1.8 %) 14 to 15 inches of water use (Not all from irrigation) 2 to 45 % of ETc for a mature orchard 2nd Leaf % PAR (+/- 2.4 %) 21.2 inches of water use (Not all from irrigation) 35 to 60 % of ETc for a mature orchard 3rd Leaf % PAR (+/- 5.0 %) 38.0 inches of water use (Not all from irrigation) % of ETc for a mature orchard Influenced by irrigation method and orchard floor vegetation 4th Leaf % PAR (+/- 5.0 %) 42.0 inches of water use (Not all from irrigation) Approaching 100 % of ETc for a mature orchard Influenced by irrigation method and orchard floor vegetation

31 Approximate ETc of newly planted walnut trees. Expressed as a percentage of ETc for mature trees and as inches of ETc in two week intervals. DATE Near Hwy 99W & Gerber Ave First Leaf % First Leaf (inches) First Leaf (gal/tree/ day) Second Leaf % Second Leaf (inches) Apr Apr May May June June July July Aug Aug Sept Sept Oct Oct Total Gallons/tree/day = (((ETc x 27,150) trees/ac) days)

32 Approximate ETc of newly planted walnut trees. Expressed as a percentage of ETc for mature trees and as inches of ETc in two week intervals. DATE Third Leaf % Third Leaf (inches) Fourth Leaf % Fourth Leaf (inches) Near Hwy 99W & Gerber Ave Apr Apr May May June June July July Aug Aug Sept Sept Oct Oct Total

33 More lessons learned Pressure chamber, moisture sensors, and flow meters give different insights Pressure chamber Tree response to growing conditions Moisture sensors and flow meters indicators of how management may be affecting growing conditions All three tools provide a point of reference to adjust management 33

34 Benefits of irrigation management tools Productivity Earlier Higher and more consistent Better crop quality and more value Improved orchard life span Complements other cultural practices Resource stewardship Water and energy conservation? 2012 Survey of Almond Growers Turning to more science-based information 53 % Use flow meters 43 % Irrigation uniformity 44 % - Water budget (ETc) 49 % - Soil moisture monitoring 28 % - Pressure Chamber, Midday SWP 34

35 THANK YOU! 35