Articles
EFFECT OF IRRIGATION AND MULCHING WITH BLACK FOIL ON YIELDING OF RASPBERRY CV. CANBY
Even short periods of drought have negative influence on their growth and fruiting.
Lack of rainfall, especially during flowering and fruit ripening periods may be the reason of a significant decrease in yield and fruit quality.
Soil moisture can be controlled by irrigation or mulching which reduce water evaporation and allow more economical use of water.
Raspberries need considerable moisture in soil.
They suffer from drought and their fruit yields are lower then (Slowik 1973, Ingram 1976, Makosz 1986, Rebandel et al. 1992) although raspberries have their root system deep and well developed (down to 175 cm) (Makosz 1986) its main part grows close to the soil surface (Slowik 1973, Makosz 1986).
Irrigation effectiveness depends upon weather (Rebandel et al.1992) and field water content (Slowik 1973, Makosz 1992). According to Makosz (1986), the greatest effects are obtained when plants are irrigated throughout the period of intensive fruit growth.
Raspberries can be irrigated by sprinkler irrigation (Slowik 1973, Ivanov 1984) or drip irrigation (Ingram 1976, Ivanov 1984, Rebandel et al. 1982). Sprinkler irrigation systems are now replaced by drip irrigation which are more economical and make a fruit pick-up possible while irrigating.
Iwanov (1984) points out that drip irrigation increases raspberry fruit yields 2,4 – 19,2 % in comparison with the sprinkler irrigation control.
Irrigation is not the only way to influence soil moisture, another method which partly enables to control soil moisture is mulching with black foil (Mage 1982, Makosz 1986, Stojanowska 1986, Rechnio 1989 i Lipecki 1992). It reduces water evaporation from the soil surface.
Mulching foil significantly restricts weed wegetation in rows, which competes for water with raspberry plants (Stojanowska 1986, Rechnio 1989, Lipecki 1992). Makosz (1986 after Tharatanols) states that raspberry plantations mulched with black foil give better yields than those grown on herbicide treatment.
The aim of the experiment was to carry out investigations dealing with effectiveness of irrigation and mulching of raspberry plants.