ERDF WATERR Project. Where next for the irrigation sector? 28 September 2015

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1 This project is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the South East ERDF Competiveness Programme This project is part funded by the European Regional Directive (ERDF) as part of the South East ERDF Competiveness Programme ERDF WATERR Project Where next for the irrigation sector? 28 September 215 Using precision irrigation to improve water use efficiency, yields and produce quality Mark A. Else RECP Programme Leader

2 Content Introduction Measuring tools and techniques Crop responses to limited water availability Automated precision irrigation Commercial trials Technologies to help with scaling up Using water stress to improve resource use, productivity and crop quality Acknowledgements

3 Irrigation scheduling matching demand with supply Volume of water applied per day (ml) /5/1 1/6/1 1/7/1 1/8/1 1/9/1 1/1/1 1/11/1 1/12/1 Date Plant water use can vary up to 13-fold Temporary water deficits may reduce yields and quality Need effective irrigation systems and scheduling tools

4 Irrigation scheduling methods for soils and substrates Rad sum Evapotranspiration (ETo) / VPD + crop co-efficients / calibration Volumetric water content (range of sensors) Matric potential sensor Continuous measurement of plant responses to root water availability

5 Continuous plant-based measurements

6 Volumetric substrate moisture content What is the optimum substrate moisture content? Wet Pot capacity Leaf growth begins to slow Water is lost from the leaves through open stomata Stomata begin to close Plants begin to wilt Permanent wilting point Dry Time Measure plant physiological responses to decreasing VSMC

7 Volumetric substrate moisture content Defining the optimum substrate moisture content Wet a b c Pot capacity Leaf growth begins to slow Stomata begin to close Plants begin to wilt d Permanent wilting point Dry e a to b = optimum VSMC b to c = suitable range of VSMC for deficit irrigation a to e = available water Time Lower irrigation set points for each substrate can be identified

8 Deriving irrigation set points for commercial varieties Coir volumetric moisture content (%) WW ITR RDI Installation of netafim irrigation rig and adjustment of ph and EC 9/6/14 23/6/14 7/7/14 21/7/14 Precision control of coir water content within <1% of set point Maintain, reduce or eliminate run-off Impose controlled coir drying treatment Coir VMC which trigger plant physiological responses

9 Optimising resource use efficiency using precision fertigation control Coir volumetric moisture content % ater applied per plant (L) /6/14 27/6/14 11/7/14 25/7/14 8/8/14 22/8/14 5/9/14 Date Impose three different run-through treatments (15%, 5%, %) 4 WW GTR1 GTR2 Water (and fertiliser) savings of between 14 and 45% 3 Increase in marketable yields of between 2 and 25% No treatment effects on fruit quality or shelf-life potential 2 A) B) C) (% of water applied) 15 1

10 Irrigation scheduling and deficit irrigation in sweet cherry May Jun Jul Aug Sep Soil Matric Potential (KPa) WW DD1 DD2 DD3 DD4-1 Merchant / Gisela 5 and Kordia / Gisela 5 Testing sensitivity to soil water deficits during Stages 1, 2, 3 and post harvest Effects on fruit retention, expansion, Class 1 yield, flower initiation Effects on quality at harvest and storage potential

11 Improving on-farm resource use efficiency and fruit quality Coir volumetric moisture content (%) 6 4 Monitoring 2 CC GTR 16/6/14 7/7/14 28/7/14 18/8/14 8/9/14 29/9/14 Date GTR imposed Set point adjusted Soluble solids content CC GTR * * 2/9/14 1/9/14 18/9/214 9/1/214 Measurement date

12 Commercial pear trial Commercial trial at A. Hinge & Sons Implementing irrigation best practice at Ham Green Farm Developing RDI to improve fruit quality and storage potential Deploying enabling technologies Communicate the results to the industry

13 Remote sensing of responses to biotic and abiotic stresses

14 New technologies delivering new opportunities Digital imaging improving yield forecasts Thermal imaging monitoring for abiotic and biotic stresses Hyperspectral imaging rapid, non-destructive assessment of quality Closed loop, multi-sensor, precision fertigation, remote sensing

15 Grower-facing Decision Support System (BerryDSS) Precision automated fertigation Weather probability forecasting to inform irrigation scheduling decisions Environmental metrics (e.g. GDH) to forecast first and peak harvests Multi-detector imaging systems to manage risks

16 Leaf antioxidant content New deficit irrigation strategies to improve quality Concentration (ng g -1 FW) Ethyl hexanoate TEAC ( mol g -1 FW) Ethyl butanoate Beneficial stresses e.g. Transient Deficit Irrigation (TDI) Improved flavour, firmness, antioxidant capacity, shelf-life Resource partitioning higher dry matter content Improved fruit visibility, faster picking rates? WW 12 PRD 1 PRD 8 PRD 6 RDI 1 Treatment RDI 8 RDI 6 WW 12 PRD PRD PRD RDI RDI RDI Well-watered TDI RDI Treatment Irrigation regime

17 Transient deficit irrigation to control vegetative vigour Coir volumetric moisture content (%) % Water witheld until leaves wilted 1.7% 3/6/14 14/7/14 28/7/14 11/8/14 Date Plants adjust to declining coir water availability (osmotic adjustment) Stress pre-conditioning may help to improve crop resilience Inoculation with mycorrhiza to improve resource acquisition WW TDI 1 TDI 2

18 Outputs from our research Increased resource use efficiency Higher yields Consistent quality Assured shelf life Reduced waste Best practice guidelines Improved resilience Commercial roll-out Sustainable intensification

19 With thanks to Mike Davies, June Taylor, Clare Hopson, Helen Longbottom, Antonio Llorente, Dr Eleftheria Stavridou, Dr Gerard Bishop, Dr Julian Lecourt Dr Richard Harrison, Dr Bo Li, Prof. Xiangming Xu Dr Martin Goodchild, Dick Jenkins (DT) Julian Gruzelier (NUK) Laurence Dingle, Trevor Bean et al. (TRC) Richard Harnden, Orlin Atanasov (BGG) Tony Harding, Stuart Clarke (WFL) BGG Growers, Robert Hinge, May Farm Helen Chapman, South East Water IUK, HDC, EMT, BBSRC, Defra, EA, ERDF THE TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH CENTRE