Micro Irrigation for Peach Growers

Transcription

1 Micro Irrigation for Peach Growers Presented by Inge Bisconer, Technical Marketing and Sales Manager, Toro Micro-Irrigation Presented at the Ontario Canada Fruit and Vegetable Conference February 23, 2017

2 Agenda 1. Introduction 2. Agronomic Considerations 3. Micro-Irrigation for Peaches 4. What s Next? 5. Resources Toro Irrigation Solutions Precise. Efficient. Practical. Toro Irrigation Solutions Precise. Efficient. Practical.

3 The Toro Company / Micro-Irrigation Division Toro Irrigation/Micro-Irrigation 1. Residential/Commercial headquarters in Riverside, CA 2. Agricultural drip headquarters in El Cajon, CA The Toro Company 1. Founded 102 years ago in July World headquarters in Bloomington, MN 3. NYSE listed, $6.4 billion market cap locations worldwide, active in 80 countries 5. 5,200 employees

4 Inge Bisconer Background Inge Bisconer, MBA, CID Technical Marketing and Sales Manager, Toro Micro-Irrigation California farm background B.S. from UC Davis MBA from University of Phoenix 35 years in irrigation/water industry Past president, California Irrigation Institute Past chair, Irrigation Association Drip/Micro CIG Member, California Ag Irrigation Association Associate Faculty, MiraCosta College Author, Toro Micro-Irrigation Owner s Manual Presenter, The Grange Network Webinars Co-host, The Water Zone radio show Recipient of IA s 2016 Industry Achievement Award

5 Introduction

6 Introduction

7 Benefits of Drip Irrigation Benefits of Drip Irrigation Maximize Water Efficiency Maximize Water Efficiency Energy Energy Labor Costs Labor Costs Fertilizer Fertilizer Pesticide Pesticide Improve the Environment Improve the Environment Improve Flexibility Improve Flexibility Risk Risk Improve Crop Quality and Uniformity Improve Crop Quality and Uniformity Increase Yields Increase Yields Maximize Water Efficiency Maximize Water Efficiency Energy Energy Labor Costs Labor Costs Fertilizer Fertilizer Pesticide Pesticide Improve the Environment Improve the Environment Improve Flexibility Improve Flexibility Risk Risk Increase Yields Increase Yields Income Quality Uniformity Water Energy Labor Fertilizer Pesticide Introduction

8 Introduction

9 Water Efficiency, WUE Water Efficiency = Yield / Water Input WUE =

10 Resource Efficiency, RUE Resource Efficiency = Yield / All Farm Inputs RUE =

11 PRECISE APPLICATIONS OF WATER IS CRITICAL TO: 1. General Growth 2. Vegetative Shoot Growth 3. Growth of Roots 4. Flower Bud Formation, Bloom and Fruit Set 5. Fruit Growth and Quality 6. Prevention of Stress, Diseases and Pests Adapted from Western Fertilizer Handbook

12 BMP s for Peach Irrigation 1. Consumptive : 36 /year 2. Peak ET: 0.20 /day (35-40 gals/day) 3. Micro-Irrigated (90% EU) trees need 1.5 /week; overhead sprinkler (60% EU) irrigated trees need 2.3 /week 4. Irrigation is crucial during last 30 days Adapted from Rutgers Best Management Practices for Irrigating Peach Trees (Jerome Frecon)

13 BMP s for Peach Irrigation 5. Damage from lack of moisture is permanent 6. Rootzone is 24 deep but 80-90% of feeder roots are in top foot where 70% of moisture is extracted. 7. Micro-irrigation should wet 25-60% of the root zone 8. Irrigation increases yields by about 25% due to fruit size Adapted from Rutgers Best Management Practices for Irrigating Peach Trees (Jerome Frecon)

14 Drip/Micro for Permanent Crops Dripline Hose and On- Line Emitters Jets/sprays Micro- Sprinklers

15 Dripline: Single or Dual

16 Dripline: Subsurface Drip Irrigation, SDI

17 Micro-Sprinklers

18 Jets

19 Jets vs. Dual Dripline

20 Jets vs. Dual Dripline

21 What s Next? 21 st Century Orchard project Kevin R. Day, Theodore M. DeJong, Rebecca C. Phene, and Claude J. Phene University of California, Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension (KARE) 1. Primary Goal: Compare convention height trees (12-13' tall) with pedestrian height (6-7') trees at 4 to 8 tree spacing grown on UC-developed size reducing rootstocks. Plant two cultivars of peach/nectarine, one ripening in June and one in August 2. Secondary Goal: Compare conventional micro-sprinkler irrigation of conventional height trees vs. subsurface drip irrigation in the pedestrian trees.

22 21 st Century Orchard Project Details Two varieties (an early ripening and late ripening) of peaches are planted on three rootstocks. One rootstock is repeated on two planting configurations: The 'conventional' treatment = Nemaguard rootstock, planted 8 ft x 18 ft, will be topped at ft tall; has both varieties. Irrigated with microsprinklers. Size controlling rootstock, C9 ("90" % of the vigor of Nemaguard rootstock), planted 8 ft x 15 ft, will be topped at 6-7 ft tall; has both varieties. Irrigated with SDI. Size controlling rootstock, C6 ("60" % of the vigor of Nemaguard rootstock), planted 8 ft x 15 ft, will be topped at 6-7 ft tall; has both varieties. Irrigated with SDI. Size controlling rootstock, C6 ("60" % of the vigor of Nemaguard rootstock), planted 4 ft x 15 ft, will be topped at 6-7 ft tall; has both varieties. Irrigated with SDI.

23 Dutch Oven Peach Cobbler World Ag Expo, Tulare, CA

24 Driptips.toro.com