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This guide outlines the Water Budget Method for scheduling irrigation for apple trees based on climate data. It emphasizes the importance of the tree root zone as a water reservoir, detailing how water is added through irrigation and rainfall and lost via evapotranspiration. Key calculations include management allowed depletion and evapotranspiration rates, enabling growers to determine when and how much to irrigate. By factoring in soil moisture and climate data, tree yield can be maximized while minimizing water stress.
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Scheduling irrigations for apple trees using climate data Ted Sammis Go to Home
The Water Budget Method • The tree root zone is a reservoir • Water is added by irrigation or rainfall. • Water is removed by evapotranspiration. • Added water can be lost by deep percolation if the amount exceeds the field capacity of the soil.
Management Allowed Depletion • Management Allowed Depletion Is the percent of water that can be removed before soil moisture stress limits growth. • (For Apples MAD is %50.)
Evapotranspiration • Evapotranspiration is determined from climate data to calculate potential Evapotranspiration (water used by grass) and a scaling coefficient or crop coefficient for apples. • The crop coefficient depends on the size and spacing of the trees and the ground cover. • The crop coefficient changes throughout the growing season increasing to a maximum at maximum leaf cover
Crop coefficient scaling function for trees based on projected area
Calculation of Evapotranspiration • Potential Et= 0.3 inches / day • Et= K*PET • K= 0.8 • Et= 0.8* 0.3 = .24 inch/day
Calculated when to irrigate • Readily available water (RAW) = available water (AW) * management allowed depletion (MAD) • Example: • Aw = 2 inches/ft * 3ft root zone • Mad = 50% • RAW= 2 inches/ft*3ft*0.5 = 3 inches
Irrigation Interval • Irrigation interval = RAW / Et / day • Irrigation interval = 3 inches / 0.24 inches /day = 13 days • Irrigation interval changes with changes in the Et or soil type. • Et changes with tree cover and weather.
Source of Potential Evapotranspiration • New Mexico Climate Center Homepage • http://weather.nmsu.edu
The Water Balance Spread Sheet • Inputs • Climate data, paste into spread sheet • Soil water holding capacity inch/ft • Irrigation amount applied at each irrigation. • Output – Date to irrigate on
Conclusion • The water balance-check book method can be used to schedule irrigations for Apples. • The water use of Apples can be calculated from climate data, and this is all that is needed to apply the correct amount of water at the correct time • The check book method can also determine the decrease in yield and amount of water stress when time between irrigation is to long.