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Microirrigation Management in Grapes Mike Kizer, Extension Irrigation Specialist. Grape Microirrigation Management Issues. Water Supply Quality Issues Chlorination Acid Injection Filtration Irrigation Scheduling Water Stress Control Regulated Deficit Irrigation.
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Microirrigation Management in Grapes Mike Kizer, Extension Irrigation Specialist
Grape Microirrigation Management Issues • Water Supply Quality Issues • Chlorination • Acid Injection • Filtration • Irrigation Scheduling • Water Stress Control • Regulated Deficit Irrigation
Irrigation Water Testing Before you go very far in an irrigation development plan, get an irrigation water test for $15 from the OSU Soil, Water & Forage Analytical Lab. through your County Extension Educator
Microrrigation Water Quality Issues • Biological Growth Control • Chlorination • Mineral Precipitate Control • Acidization • Particulate Control • Filtration
Chlorination Chlorine is a strong oxidizing agent that prevents water contaminants from fouling microirrigation systems. • Dissolved minerals (iron, manganese, etc.) • Biological growths (bacterial slime, algae)
Continuous Chlorination Used when water treatment is the goal (iron or manganese precipitation) • Concentration: 1 – 5 ppm • Injection Time: Continuous
Iron & Manganese Precipitation • Chlorine injection must occur before the filter • Mn precipitates much slower than Fe • (Mn treatment may require chlorinating the well) • Inject 1 ppm free Cl for each 0.7 ppm Fe • Fe and Mn are more soluble at lower pH
Intermittent Chlorination Used to prevent or kill biological growths (algae or bacterial slime) • Concentration: 10-20 ppm • Injection Time: 30-60 minutes • Frequency: Depends on severity of the problem
Superchlorination Used to dissolve organic buildup blocking emitters (algae or bacterial slime) • Concentration: 300-500 ppm • Injection Time: Until all lines are filled; Shut system down; Leave standing 24 hours; Flush system • Frequency: As needed for remediation
Chlorine Sources • Calcium hypochlorite: Ca(OCl)2 • granular “swimming pool” chlorine bleach • 45-70% Cl2 • check for precipitation problems • Sodium hypochlorite: NaOCl • liquid household bleach • 5.25% Cl2
Venturi Chemical Injector throttling valve Bypass venturi injection device for injection of liquid chlorine, liquid fertilizer or acid. Cutaway of a venturi injector cross-section. chemical suction port
Hydraulic Powered Chemical Injector drive water exhaust port drive water inlet & filter chemical solution injection port chemical solution intake
Chemical Injection Pump positive displacement piston pump
Acid Injection • Acid injection can prevent precipitation of dissolved minerals in water • Acid injection can dissolve mineral scale clogging emitter orifices • Injection rate varies (titrate to determine) • pH goal • Concentration of acid • Buffering capacity of the water
Acid Injection Options • N-Phuric acid (liquid urea-sulphuric acid mix) • Provides nitrogen fertility and sulphur • 10-0-0-18S, 15-0-0-16S & 28-0-0-9S formulations • Phosphoric acid (H3PO4) • Provides phosphorous fertility • Muriatic (Hydrochloric) acid (HCl) • Can purchase by the gallon from Lowe’s, etc.
Acid Injection Cautions • Hazardous solutions – Corrosive & Toxic • Hazardous vapors – Ventilate properly • Eye-wash/Shower requirements by OSHA • Corrosive to metals (even 316 SS in some cases) • Use only PVC, PE or Polypropylene fittings (No Nylon fittings)
Filtration Filtration removes solid contaminants (suspended solids, precipitates, organic particles) from the water supply • Filtration should be the last treatment process before the water goes to the irrigation system (after acidization, chlorination and fertilizer injection) • Match filter system to the irrigation system size, the water contaminant load and the filtration requirements of your emitters
Sand Media Filter For water with heavy load of organic (algae) or inorganic ( silt, clay) contaminants. To back-wash properly, the upward flow of water must be high enough to “float” the top portion of the filter sand.
Backwashing Using two or more small filter units allows the use of filtered water from one or more units to backwash other filter units individually.
Grooved Disc Filters For moderately dirty water. A series of grooved, plastic discs held together by spring pressure removes particles. Spring pressure on the discs can be relieved for back-washing.
Screen Filters For water with light load of suspended solids, a plastic or metal screen removes particles.
Grape Water Requirements • Weather • Sunshine, Temperature, Wind, Humidity • Stage of Growth • Management Aims • Prevent Yield Loss Due to Water Deficit • Regulated Deficit Irrigation (RDI) • Control Vine Growth • Improve Cold Hardiness • Improve Fruit (Wine) Quality • (Arizona researchers recommend “some degree of water stress after the onset color change”)
Root Zone Water Capacity • Typical grape feeder root depth • 30 to 70 inches • Soil available water holding capacity • 0.06 to 0.21 inches of water/inch of soil Example: 40 inch root depth x 0.15 in/in AWC= 6.0 in of available water in feeder root zone
Maximum Allowable Deficit Depleting soil water in the root zone by more than 50% can lead to: • slowed vegetative growth • reduced fruit yield & quality Mild-to-moderate water stress after fruit set through color change can result in increased sugar content
Example : Grape effective root depth: 3 feet Eufala fine sand: 0.8 in/ft Max. Allowable Deficit: 50% depletion 3 ft x 0.8 in/ft x 50%/100 = 1.2 in Intentionally maintaining a root zone water deficit of 0.6-1.2 inch will lead to improved sugar content in this soil.
Regulated Deficit Irrigation • Allow root zone moisture to be depleted to some degree • Maintain deficit by irrigating to only partially replenish • Australian RDI Examples
Runing lateral lines across the slope with a slight downhill gradient is ideal Maintaining uniform water distribution on undulating terrain will require careful design and use of pressure compensated emitters