Precision Irrigation Management: What s Now and What s New (Part 2) December 7, 2016

Transcription

1 Precision Irrigation Management: What s Now and What s New (Part 2) December 7, 2016

2 Precision Irrigation Management: What s Now and What s New (Part 2) Bob Curtis, Almond Board of California (Moderator) Blake Sanden, UCCE Kern County Andrew McElrone, USDA-ARS, Davis Allan Fulton, UCCE Tehama County Kent Stenderup, Stenderup Ag Partners

3 Bob Curtis, Almond Board of California

4 Blake Sanden, UCCE Kern County

5 Precision Irrigation Management: What s Now and What s New (2) Blake Sanden UCCE Irrigation/Soils Advisor, Kern Co. Estimating crop water use, ETc Measuring ETo and CIMIS Real Almond ETc and Crop Coefficients (Kc) 5

6 Where am I on the IRRIGATION CONTINUUM? What s the main thing that keeps the crop growing? Optimal photosynthesis Maximum carbon dioxide uptake Leaf cooling/water loss from transpiration 6

7 ELECTRON MICROGRAPH OF STOMATA ON THE UNDERSIDE OF A LEAF. Reduced water/deficit irrigation, causes less turgor pressure in the plant, reduces the size of stomatal openings; thus decreasing transpiration/water loss, the uptake of carbon dioxide and reducing vegetative growth. 7

8 8 Increased conductance = increased transpiration (water loss)

9 9 Orchard water use is made up of EVAPORATION (E) from the wet soil and leaves and TRANSPIRATION (T), hence ET

10 But all I ever hear is the term ET. So how can I know how much water goes to productive tree transpiration vs. evaporation?

11 Do micro systems always lose less water to evaporation and are more efficient than flood? Check soil moisture here for optimal tree growth. Check soil moisture here for maximum water use efficiency. Is all this water available to my 1 st leaf trees with a small developing rootzone? What about evaporative losses and deep percolation? For optimal growth these young trees may only use 50% of the applied water with this type of system the first 2 years.

12 Calculating ET for crops: ET crop = ET o * K c * E f ET o = reference crop (tall grass) ET K c = crop coefficient for a given stage of growth as a ratio of grass water use. May be 0 to 1.3, standard values are good starting point. E f = an environmental factor that can account for immature permanent crops and/or impact of salinity. May be 0 to 1.1, determined by site specific factors soil/salinity/system DU

13 From 1968 to 1990 detailed records of Class A pan evaporation were recorded in dozens of locations around the SJV. Using: ETo = 0.85 Evaporation a 20 year average ETo of 49.3 inches was published by CA Dept of Water Resources in Potential or Reference evapotranspiration (ETo) is the water use of wellwatered pasture grass. First estimated using Class A evaporation pans and weighing lysimeters. 13

14 CIMIS Weather Station CALIFORNIA IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SERVICE Courtesy of Mark Anderson, DWR

15 The whole Central Valley covers Zones 12 to 16: for an normal year ETo of 53.3 to 62.5 in/yr, with most 53 to 58 inches.

16 Potential Grass ET (ETo, inches/week) Why did normal year ETo increase from ? Our understanding and accuracy of environmental and plant systems keeps improving. Then does this mean the old Kc values are always accurate? DWR Evap Pan ETo: 49.3 in 1999 CIMIS ETo: 57.9 in /1 1/31 3/2 4/1 5/1 5/31 6/30 7/30 8/29 9/28 10/28 11/27 12/27 16

17 17 How do we figure out ETo? Access California Irrigation Management Information System on-line.

18 OK on ETo for my area. Where do I get the right (?) crop coefficients, Kc Drip_-_Microsprinkler_-_Flood_Weekly_ET/ (Almond Board website) (full on irrigation calculator, must sign in, sponsored by ABC) gation_strategies/almonds/ 18

19 Drought Strategies Explained Severe Deficit in this period will increase shriveled nuts Stress at any period reduces vegetative growth, affects future yield! Deficit in this period will decrease nut/fruit size Deficit in this period will increase texturing, decrease kernel weight Deficit in this period has minimal effects Deficit in this period effects fruit bud set

20 Crop Coefficient (Kc) or Weekly ET (in) Uncut well watered pasture grass Kc = 1.0 Comparison of Grass and Almond ET Grass ETo (57.9 in) Almond crop coefficient (Kc) Mature Almond ET (52.3 in) 0.0 1/6 2/6 3/6 4/6 5/6 6/6 7/6 8/6 9/6 10/6 11/6 12/6 Full cover almond ET lags behind pasture ET and then surpasses grass water use from June through September

21 Google: cekern irrigation almond ET for Kc / ET table. 5/ / ET Estimates 5/12 1/ Using CIMIS Zone Southern SJV "Historic" ETo (1st published JAN 2002) /19 2/3 Normal Mature X22 Almond ET Minimal Cover Crop, MIcrosprinkler /26 Year Crop Spacing 2/ (inches, S. San Joaquin Valley) Grass Coef- Gallon / 2/17 6/ ETo ficient st Leaf 2nd Leaf 3rd Leaf 4th Leaf 0.22 MAY Daily day 8 Monthly / Week 2/24 6/ (in) % Mature Total Avg tree 10 6/16 3/ / FEB /23 3/10 1/ /30 3/17 1/ JUN /24 1/27 7/ JAN /14 3/31 2/ MAR /21 2/10 4/ /28 2/ / JUL / /21 8/ / FEB /11 4/ / APR /18 3/17 5/ /25 5/12 3/ /19 3/31 9/ MAR AUG /26 9/8 4/ /15 4/14 6/ MAY /22 4/ / /29 4/ APR / SEP / /6 6/ / /13 6/ / JUN /20 5/26 7/ /27 7/14 6/ OCT MAY /3 7/21 6/ /10 7/28 6/ JUL /17 6/23 8/ /24 6/ JUN / /1 7/ / NOV / /8 8/ / /15 7/28 9/ AUG JUL /22 9/8 8/ /29 9/15 8/ DEC Total 9/22 8/

22 22 Weekly crop report on ETc for Kern courtesy of DWR and UCCE (available for Fresno and Tehema also, others maybe coming)

23 2012 Changes in Almond Kc / ET Estimates Over 50 Years

24 Single Tree Kernal Yield (lb/ac) Do you get 6,000 lb/ac with 60 ET? (Brown fertility trials, 275 lb/ac N yields) mm ET Single Tree Yearly ET by Soil Water Depletion (in)

25 Almon d yield by light (PAR) & water Single tree reps Single year orchard or plot average (Courtesy of Bruce Lampenin) Multi year plot averages

26 Correlation of 2016 Nonpareil yield with applied water improved 2x to 0.51 Kernel Yield (lb/ac) 4500 Nonpareil Kernel Yield 8/16/ y = x R² = Applied Irrigation + Precip Jan 20 - Oct 28 (inches)

27 Canopy Canopy Soil Moisture 110% 100% Hull Split RDI 90% 80% 70% 70% 80% 90% Hull Split RDI 100% 110% Soil Moisture Canopy Canopy Soil Moisture 100% 110% Soil Moisture Canopy Canopy Soil Moisture 110% 100% Hull Split RDI 90% 80% 70% 70% 80% 90% Hull Split RDI 100% 110% Hull Split RDI 90% 80% 70% 70% Avg Conductance 3/25-9/22/2015 (mmolh2o/m^2/sec 80% 90% Hull Split RDI 100% 110% Canopy Soil Moisture (extra big plot) Applied Inches vs. Avg COND y = x R² = PULSE > AERIAL IMAGERY CAN IDENTIFY IRRIGATION/STRESS NON-UNIFORMITY BLOCK Irrigation + Rain (1/27-11/14, inches) CONTINUOS > PULSE > BLOCK BLOCK /25-9/22/2015 average almond plot CONDUCTANCE by 2015 applied irrigation (10 flyovers) CONTINUOS > CONTINUOS > BLOCK 1 BLOCK BLOCK3 GALCON GALLILEO CONTROLLER < PULSE > Canopy Temp/Water Stress by Irrigation Treatment (CERES Spectral Imaging 6/17/2015)

28 Equipment for making irrigation decisions Most Common Method Use a sharper tool!

29 3 foot push or slide hammer probe ($150-$250)

30 Dendrometers track small changes in tree water stress and trunk growth utilizing and integrating the relative stress throughout the rootzone. High quality/continuously reading soil moisture sensors (capacitance, TDR, tensiometric) track the adequacy of refill and leaching. In-field weather stations combined with flowmeters track the daily water balance.

31 Technology is helpful, but the most valuable thing you can put in the field is your shadow.

32 SOME SIMPLE ECONOMIC CONCLUSIONS: 1) There is no perfect number for almond Kc or ET 2) A tree may yield 5,000 lb/ac on 50, 60 or 70 in the SJV 3) Real-time monitoring is the only way to insure minimum stress and maximum efficiency and yield. Cheap water, good prices, no soil sealing: not a big payback on saved water $60 water, on 150 acres: 6 = $4,500 $100 water on 150 acres: 6 = $7,500 $1000 water on 150 acres: 6 = $75, lb/ac kernals on 150 $2 net after harvest costs = $150,000

33 Andrew McElrone, USDA-ARS, Davis

34 Development of Surface Renewal Technology Andrew J. McElrone Collaborators: Goal: Create a Paw cost-effective U, Snyder, Williams, tool to measure Battany Student/Post actual water Docs: loss Shapland, from vineyard Calderon, surfaces Parry Potential Funding: site-specific J Lohr Vineyards, replacement NIFA-SCRI, for CIMIS AVF, USDA & K c s

35 Sensible Ground Net = + + Radiation Heat Heat Flux Flux Latent Heat Flux Surface Energy Balance: Partitioning of energy at the surface

36 Surface Renewal Technology Development theoretical actual Successfully removed the need for calibration of Surface Renewal against Eddy Covariance

37 New Surface Renewal System: A reliable & automated ET measurement system Eddy Covariance ~$10,000 New Surface Renewal ~$200 Mimicked Arduino for programming ease

38 Proof of concept: Compare to lysimeter & eddy covariance (both gold standards) Kearney Agricultural Center Univ. of California- Parlier CA

39 Surface Renewal vs. Lysimeter Kearney Ag Center & 2013

40 Esparto Vineyard: 3 plots, 3 irrigation trts In past several years, measured in 10+ plots within wine and table grape vineyards; slopes range from

41 Surface Renewal vs. Soil Water Budget Kearney Ag Center & 2013

42 How to use the technology? Example #1: Amount lost = amount applied Not possible previously on a site by site basis As if there is a weighing lysimeter at each site Automated reports to users- layered approach One, simple actionable number: Pump run

43 or Cumulative Irrigation (L vine -1 ) How to use the technology? Example #2: Targeted deficit based on effective water use Wet Treatment Overwatering Cumulative ET a Measured by Surface Renewal

44 or Cumulative Irrigation (L vine -1 ) How to use the technology? Example #2: Targeted deficit based on effective water use Cumulative ET a Medium Treatment Measured by Surface Renewal Steady deficit

45 or Cumulative Irrigation (L vine -1 ) How to use the technology? Example #2: Targeted deficit based on effective water use Dry Treatment Cumulative ET a Measured by Surface Renewal Increasing deficit

46 Measure water use AND vine stress Lysimeter Vineyard-Kearney Ag Center y=0.59x R 2 =0.69; P< During stress, vines can t keep up with demand from atmosphere

47 Measure water use AND vine stress Paso Robles- J Lohr Cabernet Sauvignon MPa MPa MPa MPa MPa July 9 Sept 7

48 Licensing patented technology from UC Davis Fundamental work with applied results in ~6 yrs In 2016, >1000 stations across varied crops

49 Alternative automated methods/ technologies to track stress Infrared Radiometers (IRTs): used to measure plant canopy temperatures for plant water stress estimation

50 Alternative automated methods/ technologies to track stress Infrared Radiometers (IRTs): used to measure plant canopy temperatures for plant water stress estimation Crop Water Stress Index or Stomatal Conductance Ratio Plant temp can indicate water stresswhen stomata close and leaf temps increase

51 Acknowledgements Funding Sources: J. Lohr Vineyards and Wines American Vineyard Foundation National Grape and Wine Initiative NIFA-Specialty Crops Research Initiative USDA-ARS Sustainable Vit CRIS Jim Ayars- USDA-ARS Felipe Barrios Masias- UC Davis Mark Battany- UC ANR Daniel Bosch- Constellation Brands Arturo Calderon- UC Davis Sean Castorani- ARS Davis Nick Dokoozlian- E&J Gallo Ashley Eustis- USDA-ARS Kevin Fort- UC Davis Jerry Lohr- Grower Cooperator Kyaw Tha Paw U- UC Davis Jean Mari Peltier- NGWI Anji Perry- J Lohr V&W Rod Scheaffer- Constellation Brands Tom Shapland- UC Davis Ruby Stahel- USDA-ARS Rick Snyder- UC Davis Gwen Tindula- UC ANR Yannis Toutountzis- Constellation Brands Vlade Tudor- Tudor Farms Andy Walker- UC Davis Larry Williams- UC Davis Andrew Zaninovich- Sunview

52 Allan Fulton, UCCE Tehama County

53 Turning Orchard Variability into Opportunity Allan Fulton Farm Advisor, UC Cooperative Extension Tehama, Glenn, Colusa, and Shasta Counties Topics: What are the opportunities? Tools to help understand orchard variability Introduce zone irrigation concept

54 1993 almonds, soon after planting Almonds, approximately 10 years after planting Almonds, approximately 20 years after planting Opportunities if variability can be managed: Increase long term average yield o Twelve years after planting, potential of 400 to 1000 lbs/ac/yr more yield across 87 percent of this orchard More uniform crop development o Assist pest management (root diseases, hull split sprays, mites, weed control) o Improve harvestability and reduce shaker injury Greater efficiency More production per unit of water, energy, N, bees, and $$$

55 Soil diagnostic tools to help understand causes of orchard variability Electromagnetic (EM) soil sensors Serpentine travel pattern Sensors measure EC a Apparent EC of soil depends on o Texture o Structure o Moisture o Salinity o Other properties Electrical conductivity soil sensors (Veris)

56 Percent silt Percent clay Percent gravel Percent sand Percent gravel, sand, silt, and clay in relation to ECa (ms/m) measured with EM38 in almond orchard ECa (ms/m) ECa (ms/m) ECa (ms/m) ECa 50 (ms/m) 60 70

57 Almonds, approximately 10 years after planting Long-term almond yields in respective soil zones identified with EM38 and Veris mapping methods Almond yield (lbs/acre) Zone EM VERIS EM38 variability map for almond orchard Four soil zones Veris variability map for almond orchard Nine soil zones

58 Zone or variable rate irrigation concept Soil variability map (Veris) Zone irrigation design to match soil variability

59 Kent Stenderup, Stenderup Ag Partners

60 Variable Rate Irrigation Kent Stenderup, Arvin, CA

61 Discovery, Design and Implementation Veris Aerial Imagery, Infrared Soil Analysis Irrigation System Type Real-time Soil Moisture Sensors by Zone

62 62

63 3 Distinct Soil Types

64 64 Irrigation System Design

65 Zone Change Soil Moisture Monitoring 65

66 66 Arvin, California The Garden in the Sun

67 Questions?