Drip Irrigation in High Tunnels

Transcription

1 Drip Irrigation in High Tunnels Purdue University is an equal access/equal opportunity institution. Liz Maynard and Erin A. Bluhm Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture February 22, 2018 Wakarusa Product Auction Wakarusa, Indiana

2 Irrigating Tomatoes in High Tunnels with Drip Irrigation How often? How long? 5

3 Irrigating Tomatoes in High Tunnels with Drip Irrigation How often? Ø Size of plants Ø Weather (heat, sun) Ø Soil type Ø Size of root zone How long? Ø All of above, plus Ø Emitter spacing Ø Emitter flow rate Ø Pressure Ø Leaks 5

4 How Much Water Do Tomatoes Need? 1 to 1.5 inches/week, or 0.14 to 0.30 inches per day Less for smaller crop, cool, cloudy, calm conditions 1 acre-inch = 27,154 gallons 1.5 acre-inch = 40,731 gallons Daily Reference Evapotranspiration (inches) from June 10 through Sept. 15, 2011 for Pinney Purdue Ag Center, Wanatah, Indiana. From data provided by the Indiana State Climate Office, iclimate.org. 5

5 How Much Water Do Tomatoes Need? 1 to 1.5 inches/week, or 0.14 to 0.30 inches per day Less for smaller crop, cool, cloudy, calm conditions 1 acre-inch = 27,154 gallons 1.5 acre-inch = 40,731 gallons Gallons per Bed Length of Bed X Width = Sq.Ft. /43,560 = Acres X 27,154 X Acreinch = Gallons 100 X 4 = 400 /43560 = X X 0.30 = 75 X = /43560 = X X 0.30 = X = /43560 = X X 0.20 = X = /43560 = X X 0.15 = X = /43560 = X X 0.10 = X = /43560 = X X 0.05 =

6 How Much Water Do Tomatoes Need? 1 to 1.5 inches/week, or 0.14 to 0.30 inches per day Less for smaller crop, cool, cloudy, calm conditions 1 acre-inch = 27,154 gallons 1.5 acre-inch = 40,731 gallons Gallons per Bed Length of Bed X Width = Sq.Ft. /43,560 = Acres X 27,154 X Acreinch = Gallons 100 X 4 = 400 /43560 = X X X 0.30 = 75 X = /43560 = X X 0.30 = X = /43560 = X X 0.20 = X = /43560 = X X 0.15 = X = /43560 = X X 0.10 = X = /43560 = X X 0.05 =

7 How Much Water Can The Root Zone Hold?...depends on the soil type Available Water per Foot of Soil (in.) 100% 40% Sand Sandy Loam Loam Silt Loam Clay Loam Available Water Holding Capacity (AWHC): Amount of water between field capacity and permanent wilting point. Field Capacity: Amount of water in soil after saturated soil has drained. Permanent Wilting Point: Amount of water in soil when plants wilt and do not recover. For many vegetables: keep soil moisture between 60% and 100% of available water. Don t use more than 40% of available water holding capacity before irrigating. 5

8 Selected Elkhart County Soils Available Water Holding Capacity (in./foot) Bristol loamy sand, 0.94 inch Brookston loam, 1.94 inches Crosier loam, 1.4 inches Oshtemo, coarse-loamy, 1.52 inches Osolo loamy sand, 1 inch Riddles, fine loamy, 1.78 inches Tyner loamy sand, 0.94 inch Source: USDA-NRCS. Soil Survey of Elkhart County. 5

9 How Much Water Can The Root Zone Hold?...depends on the wetted zone AND rooting depth Loam soil: AWHC= 1.8 inch/ft. depth 18 inch rooting depth (1.5 ft.) 1.8 inches/ft. X 1.5 ft. = 2.7 inches AW in root zone 1 drip tape wets 24 inches (2 ft.) For 100-ft. bed, area = 100 X 2 = 200 sq. ft. 2.7 in. X gal/in./sq.ft X 200 sq.ft. = 336 gallons Available Water in 100- ft. bed Sandy loam: AWHC= 1.3 inch/ft. depth 18 inch rooting depth (1.5 ft.) 1.3 inches/ft. X 1.5 ft. = 1.95 inches AW in root zone 1 drip tape wets 12 inches (1 ft.) For 100-ft. bed, area = 100 X 1 = 100 sq. ft in. X gal/in./sq.ft X 100 sq.ft. = 121 gallons Available Water in 100-ft. bed 1 inch over 1 sq. ft. = gallons 1 cubic foot = 7.48 gallons Sandy loam: AWHC= 1.3 inch/ft. 18 inch rooting depth (1.5 ft.) 1.3 inches/ft. X 1.5 ft. = 1.95 inches 1 drip tape wets 12 inches (1 ft.) 2 drip tapes per bed For 100-ft. bed, area = 100 X 2 = 200 sq. ft in. X gal/in./sq.ft X 200 sq.ft. = 243 gallons Available Water in 100-ft. bed 5

10 How Much Water Can The Root Zone Hold?...don t use more than 40% 336 gallons Available Water in 100-ft. bed 40% = 0.4 X 336 = 134 gallons 121 gallons Available Water in 100-ft. bed 40% = 0.4 X 121 = 48 gallons 243 gallons Available Water in 100-ft. bed 40% = 0.4 X 243 = 97 gallons 1 inch over 1 sq. ft. = gallons 1 cubic foot = 7.48 gallons 5

11 How Much Water Can The Root Zone Hold? How Many Days?...don t use more than 40% gallons Available Water in 100-ft. bed don t use more than 40% = 0.4 X 336 = 134 gallons Gallons of water use based on 100 ft. X 4-ft. bed (400 sq.ft.) 121 gallons Available Water in 100-ft. bed don t use more than 40% = 0.4 X 121 = 48 gallons Plant Water Use Days of Water acre-inch gal./day Soil 1 Soil 2 Soil /75= gallons Available Water in 100-ft. bed - don t use more than 40% = 0.4 X 243 = 97 gallons 5

12 Monitor Soil Moisture Monitor at two depths 1/3 and 2/3 of rooting depth Example: 6 inches and 12 inches Is it time to irrigate? Soil moisture below 75% AWHC Soil water tension more than kpa or centibars Is enough water applied? Too much? Water should reach bottom of root zone If deeper depth is drying out, increase application If deeper depth stays wet, decrease application 5

13 Soil Moisture Monitoring Methods 5

14 Soil Moisture Monitoring Methods Tensiometers Soil Moisture Blocks, Watermark Sensors Feel Method 5

15 How Long Should Irrigation Run? Water Flow per 100 ft. of Tape gal. per hour gal. per minute...depends on how much water, emitter type, emitter spacing, pressure, length of drip tape Gallons of Water Desired per 100 ft. of Drip Tape Estimated hours to run irrigation * ** *0.24 gph per emitter and 12-inch emitter spacing **0.24 gph per emitter and 8-inch emitter spacing

16 How Long Should Irrigation Run?...depends on how much water, emitter type, emitter spacing, pressure, length of drip tape Measure Water Flow in Your System Amount of water in 15 minutes from individual emitters Emitter 1: 8 fl.oz. Emitter 2: 10 fl.oz. Emitter 3: 6 fl.oz. Emitter 4: 12 fl.oz. Average: ( )/4 = 9 fl.oz. Emitter spacing: 12 inches Gallons per Hour per 100 ft. = (Fl.oz./15 minutes) X (emitter spacing) X (9 X 12) X = 28 gallons per hour per 100 ft = [(60 mph/15 min)*100 ft.] / (128 oz./gal. * 12 in./ft.)

17 High Tunnel Tomato Irrigation Trial, 2017 Purdue University is an equal access/equal opportunity institution.

18 Where: Pinney Purdue Agriculture Center, Wanatah, IN When: March 24 (seed), April 27 (transplant) August 30 2 tunnels HT1 Organic HT2 Conventional 2 varieties Big Beef Red Deuce 72 plants 6 harvests July 25 Aug 28

19 HT-1, Organic preplant: 90 lbs./a N from (Nature Safe pelleted nitrogen blending base) (1286 lbs./a) HT-2, Conventional preplant: 30 lbs./a N from (Shaw s Turf Food urea) HT-2, Conventional, additional nitrogen: 6 lbs./a/wk N from UAN (2.01 gal/a/wk) fertigation for six weeks 8 lbs./a/wk N from UAN (2.68 gal/a/wk) fertigation for five weeks April 2017 soil tests

20 Tunnels: 6 beds per tunnel, 3 x 42 3 beds in irrigation trial 3 irrigation treatments, 21 ft. each 12 plants per treatment Plants: Red Deuce, Big Beef seeded March 24 transplanted April inches apart

21 T2 T1 X X X X T3 T3 T1 T2 Treatment 1 watered as needed, 6 tensiometers exceed 20kPa soil water tension Treatment 2 watered once daily, minute intervals Treatment 3 watered 4 times a day, 5-11 minute intervals Weekly water volume the same for all trts.

22 Bed 6 Bed 5 Bed 4 X X X X Bed 3 Bed 2 Bed 1 DIG LEIT Solar Timer with In-Line Valve ambient light powered irrigation controller

23 Soil Moisture Monitored Two Ways Tensiometer (kpa)

24 Soil Moisture Monitored Two Ways HOBO Soil Moisture Smart Sensor (m 3 /m 3 )

25 HT1 Tensiometer Readings from May 2 - September 14, inch 6 inch 2 Avg. 6 inch 18 inch Gals per bed

26 HT1 Soil Moisture from May 2 - September 14, 2017 VWCB PCT Min VWCB PCT Max VWCB PCT Mean Gals per Bed

27 HT2 Tensiometer Readings from May 2 - September 14, inch 6 inch 2 Avg. 6 inch 18 inch Gals per bed

28 HT2 Soil Moisture from May 2 - September 14, 2017 VWCB PCT Min VWCB PCT Max VWCB PCT Mean Gals per Bed

29 High Tunnel Water Applied per Tunnel and Treatment (May 2 Sept 1, 2017) Treatment 1 Treatment 2 Treatment 3 Total gallons 1 Avg. gals./ bed/wk. 2 Total gallons Avg. gals./ bed/wk. Total gallons Avg. gals./ bed/wk Total gallons applied per treatment, per bed by tunnel for the growing season 2 Average gallons applied per treatment, per bed, per week by tunnel during the growing season 1 bed = 42 ft., 4-ft bed spacing = 168 sq. ft. 120 gal/bed/week = 0.72 gal/sq. ft = 1.15 acre-inches/week or 0.16 acre-inches/day

30 Organic Fertilized 5 times with Sea Plus Fish & Seaweed emulsion, 250 ppm N Conventional Fertilized 5 times with Peter s Pete Lite Special , 250 ppm N

31 Grading and Weighing USDA No. 1 All sizes USDA No. 2 All sizes Cull catface, crack, zipper, insect, blossom end rot, abnormal color, other

32 Organic Big Beef August 1 harvest

33 Treatment 1 Treatment 2 Treatment 3

34 Organic Red Deuce August 1 harvest

35 Treatment 1 Treatment 3 Treatment 2

36 Conventional Big Beef August 1 harvest

37 Treatment 1 Treatment 2 Treatment 3

38 Conventional Red Deuce August 1 harvest

39 Treatment 1 Treatment 3 Treatment 2

40 Effects of Irrigation Treatments on Number of Fruit and Yield (lb.) for Two Varieties Total USDA No. 1 and No. 2 Fruit per Plant Average Wt. per Marketable Fruit Irrigation Treatment No. Wt. (lbs.) Wt. (lbs.) Big Beef 1. Std X/day X/day Significance NS NS NS Red Deuce 1. Std X/day X/day Significance NS NS NS

41 Effects of Irrigation Treatments on Number of Fruit and Yield (lb.) for Two Varieties Total USDA Cull Fruit per Plant Total Red and Green Fruit per Plant Irrigation Treatment No. Wt. (lbs.) No. Wt. (lbs.) Big Beef 1. Std X/day X/day Significance NS NS NS NS Red Deuce 1. Std X/day X/day Significance NS NS NS

42 Tomato Yield for Three Irrigation Treatments, Big Beef and Red Deuce BIG BEEF Cultivar Name RED DEUCE Fruit Weight per Plant (lb.) USDA No. 1 Fruit USDA No. 2 Fruit USDA Cull Fruit Green Fruit Irrigation Treatment

43 Effects of High Tunnels on Number of Fruit and Yield (lb.) for Two Varieties Total USDA No. 1 and No. 2 Fruit per Plant Average Marketable Fruit Tunnel No. Wt. (lbs.) Wt. (lbs.) Big Beef HT HT Significance NS 0.04 NS Red Deuce HT HT Significance NS NS NS

44 Effects of High Tunnels on Number of Fruit and Yield (lb.) for Two Varieties Total USDA Cull Fruit per Plant Total Red and Green Fruit per Plant Tunnel No. Wt. (lbs.) No. Wt. (lbs.) Big Beef HT HT Significance NS NS NS Red Deuce HT HT Significance NS NS NS 0.017

45 Tomato Yield for Three Irrigation Treatments, Big Beef and Red Deuce, in Two High Tunnels BIG BEEF Cultivar Name RED DEUCE Fruit Weight per Plant (lb.) High Tunnel Number USDA No. 1 Fruit USDA No. 2 Fruit USDA Cull Fruit Green Fruit Irrigation Treatment

46 Tomato Cull Fruit for Three Irrigation Treatments, Big Beef and Red Deuce, in Two High Tunnels BIG BEEF Cultivar Name RED RED DEUCE DEUCE Fruit Number per Plant High Tunnel Number Irrigation Treatment

47 Wind damage to HT2 May 18 Maximum wind gust all over 25 mph from 10:00 to 22:00 Sustained winds averaged more than 15 mph, mostly over 17 mph

48 Possible herbicide drift Adjacent field sprayed May 18, bleaching first observed on May 26. Tunnels closed for any spraying in nearby fields after initial incident.

49 Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (white mold, timber rot) confirmed May 26 May 16 June 11 July 19

50 Thank you! Questions? Acknowledgments Pinney Purdue Ag Center: J. Leuck, M. O Neal, A. Leman HLA Vegetable Crew: S. Musgrave Donated Seed: Harris Moran Seed Company This project was supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service through grant (SCBG ). The contents of this report are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the USDA. Collaborators: James Farmer, Project PI, and Analena Bruce, Project Post Doc, Indiana University Bloomington