Articles
Sensor- and model-based irrigation of apple trees on a deep Luvisol soil
Article number
1433_21
Pages
169 – 174
Language
English
Abstract
In the Lake Constance area, in southwestern Germany, the mean annual precipitation is 800-1000 mm.
However, due to climate change, the rainfall distribution during the vegetation season is changing towards long periods of either dry or wet conditions.
This study investigated the water relations of apple trees in sensor-based irrigation treatments and their physiological behaviour.
The following treatments were applied to third leaf ‘Red Topaz’ (Malus × domestica) in the study year 2023: a digital sensor-based method with soil water tension at threshold levels of 1) 25 kPa, 2) 50 kPa, 3) an interval irrigation strategy, 4) a non-irrigated control, and 5) a web-based climatic water balance model was post-modeled for the study season and compared to the sensor-based irrigation schedules.
As a result of excessive irrigation in the conventional strategy, new shoot growth increased and re-flowering was observed in autumn.
On the other hand, the non-irrigated control yielded an average of 10% less fruit compared to all irrigated treatments.
Irrigation scheduling based on the soil water tension threshold saved 75% of irrigation events compared to conventional irrigation while the yield did not differ from the conventional strategy.
Calculations using the climatic model showed a similar savings potential based solely on freely accessible data of usable field capacity, precipitation, evapotranspiration, and orchard parameters such as row and plant spacing.
Our study revealed that irrigation management based on models and sensors can reduce water input as well as ensure the normal physiological behaviour of apple trees.
However, due to climate change, the rainfall distribution during the vegetation season is changing towards long periods of either dry or wet conditions.
This study investigated the water relations of apple trees in sensor-based irrigation treatments and their physiological behaviour.
The following treatments were applied to third leaf ‘Red Topaz’ (Malus × domestica) in the study year 2023: a digital sensor-based method with soil water tension at threshold levels of 1) 25 kPa, 2) 50 kPa, 3) an interval irrigation strategy, 4) a non-irrigated control, and 5) a web-based climatic water balance model was post-modeled for the study season and compared to the sensor-based irrigation schedules.
As a result of excessive irrigation in the conventional strategy, new shoot growth increased and re-flowering was observed in autumn.
On the other hand, the non-irrigated control yielded an average of 10% less fruit compared to all irrigated treatments.
Irrigation scheduling based on the soil water tension threshold saved 75% of irrigation events compared to conventional irrigation while the yield did not differ from the conventional strategy.
Calculations using the climatic model showed a similar savings potential based solely on freely accessible data of usable field capacity, precipitation, evapotranspiration, and orchard parameters such as row and plant spacing.
Our study revealed that irrigation management based on models and sensors can reduce water input as well as ensure the normal physiological behaviour of apple trees.
Authors
S. Foell, A. Haug, R.J. McCormick, K. Biegert
Keywords
demand-based irrigation, plant water relations, soil water tension, high-clay, young trees
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