EXPANDING CHERRY PRODUCTION IN BRITISH COLUMBIA UNDER CLIMATE CHANGE

Transcription

1 EXPANDING CHERRY PRODUCTION IN BRITISH COLUMBIA UNDER CLIMATE CHANGE Louise Nelson 1, Paige Munro 1, Tanja Voegel 1, Melanie Jones 1, Miranda Hart 1, Tom Forge 2, Denise Neilsen 2 1 Biology Department, UBC Okanagan Campus 2 Summerland Research and Development Centre, AAFC

2 Outline of Presentation Research overview Background Objectives Field trials Greenhouse bioassays Producer interactions Evaluating efficacy of adaptation Gaps in research and next steps Research network types-of-cherries.html

3 Research Overview- Background Importance of Sweet Cherry Production in BC In 2013 BC produced about 11,000 metric tonnes of sweet cherry with a farm gate value of $42 million 1 This represents 95% of the total cherry production in Canada 1 Cherry acreage increased 26% in BC between 2008 and Access to new markets e.g. China 1 faststatsbc_2013.pdf

4 Effect of climate change on areas suitable for cherry production in the Okanagan Crop suitability modelling for Sweetheart cherry in the Okanagan region over the past 50 years. Dark green areas are climatically suitable. Developed using the following combined criteria: chance of 90% blossom kill in spring, growing season length and absolute minimum winter temperature (Denise Neilsen and Scott Smith, unpublished data).

5 Challenges with Climate Change Limited water availability Increase water-use efficiency Mulching Drip or micro-sprinkler irrigation Timing and frequency of watering Maintaining soil health Restrictions on use of fumigants Replant disease common in established orchards in south Okanagan Alternatives to fumigation Compost Mulch apples/diseases-and-disorders/applereplant-disease.html M. Thurston, BC Tree Fruits Coop.

6 Long-Term Objective To facilitate expansion of cherry production in the Okanagan Valley under current and projected climate conditions while optimizing water use efficiency and soil health Preparing for mulch application at the Coldstream site Preparing for compost application at the Lavington site

7 Short-term Objectives 1. To optimize water use in cherry orchards established in more northern and higher elevations sites Field trials established at 4 sites Coldstream and Lavington- newly planted orchards, N. Okanagan S.E. Kelowna and Summerland established orchards, Central/S. Okanagan Three Orchard Floor Treatments Bare soil Mulch Compost Two Irrigation Treatments Current practice (Drip/ microsprinkler) Postharvest deficit

8 Short-term Objectives 1. To optimize water use in cherry orchards at more northern sites Measurements Water use efficiency Using Picarro s cavity ring-down spectroscopy Measures stable isotopes of carbon Soil analyses Soil water holding capacity Organic matter, C, N, P, K, Mg Soil ph and CEC Plant growth Tree height and diameter Fruit yield and quality

9 Short-term Objectives 2. To enhance the natural biological buffering capacity of soils in cherry orchards newly planted on non-fumigated soils Determine effect of orchard floor treatments at the 4 field sites on: Soil health Total microbial activity (enzyme assay) Nematode populations Total bacterial and fungal abundance Soil fungal pathogens Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

10 Short-term Objectives 2. To enhance the natural biological buffering capacity of soils in cherry orchards newly planted on non-fumigated soils Determine if native soil microbial populations enhance or restrict cherry growth Greenhouse bioassays of old and new soils from 18 sites from south to north Okanagan Pasteurized and non-pasteurized treatments Measure cherry explant growth

11 Short-term Objectives 2. To enhance the natural biological buffering capacity of soils in cherry orchards newly planted on non-fumigated soils Determine role of soil amendments in enhancing healthy soil microbial populations Greenhouse bioassays of soils from 4 field sites following amendment application Monitor nematode, fungal and bacterial populations Measure cherry explant growth

12 Producer Participation Working with growers at 18 sites in the Okanagan Liaising with: BC Cherry Association BC Fruit Growers Association BC Tree Fruits Cooperative BC Ministry of Agriculture, Plant Health Program City of Kelowna compost program AgriForest Bio-Technologies Ltd Collaborating with researchers at AAFC Summerland Research and Development Centre

13 Communication Strategies Producer Communication Channels Reports to annual meetings of BCCA and BCFGA Fact sheets for BCCA website Field tours in years 2 and 3 Articles in BC Fruit Grower Academic and Government Researcher Channels Presentations at scientific conferences Articles in peer-reviewed journals

14 Cost/Benefit Analysis of Adaptation Working with Dr. Julien Picault, Economist, UBC Okanagan Evaluate economic costs and benefits of: organic soil amendments (compost /mulch vs bare soil) irrigation treatments (standard practice (drip/microsprinkler) vs postharvest deficit) in relation to plant growth, fruit yield, water use Evaluate social value of irrigation treatments, organic soil amendments and soil health maintenance Adaptation to climate change Agricultural sustainability Reference: A.E. Boardman, D.H. Greenberg, A.R. Vining and D.L. Weimer, Cost-Benefit Analysis: Concepts and Practice, Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall, 2011 (4th ed.).

15 Research Gaps and Next Steps Field studies just beginning Short-term study two field seasons may be too short a time frame to observe treatment benefits Longer-term monitoring of treatments necessary fruit yield Extrapolation of study results to other crops under climate change May be relevant to other fruit tree crops Unknown for annual crops

16 The Value of a Research Network Information exchange amongst researchers Increases ability to see the big picture Complementary expertise can lead to collaboration Coordinated communication to: producers industry regional planners policy makers

17 Acknowledgements Funding for this project has been provided in part by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the BC Ministry of Agriculture through the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC under Growing Forward 2, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative. The program is delivered by the BC Agriculture & Food Climate Action Initiative. Private BC Foundation AAFC Summerland Research and Development Centre Dendy Orchards 9 other growers