Terence Robinson, Alan Lakso, Leo Dominguez, Mario Miranda and Mike FargioneDept. of Horticulture, Cornell University

Geneva, NY 14456

Precision Irrigation

NY-ARDP

The Need for Irrigation in the Northeast

1. Irrigation is essential to ensure optimum fruit size in 3 years out of 5.2. Irrigation improves tree growth and cropping of young high-density

orchards.

Fruit size of Gala in 2007 was 70g less than in 2010 (2 inch vs. 3 inch Gala

Fruit Size in the Severe Drought of 2007

Water Stress with Young Trees

• Newly planted trees have limited capacity to take up water and nutrients due to damaged root systems.

• Highly feathered trees experience water stress in late May and June due to limited root systems and extensive leaf area

• Water must be applied frequently to limit water stress on newly planted trees. Trickle irrigation must be installed within 2 weeks of planting

Trickle Irrigation Improves 1st Year Growth on Young Trees

Trickle Irrigation Improves 2nd Year Yield on Young Trees

Trickle Irrigation Improves Crop Value in 2nd Year on Young Trees

Trickle Irrigation Improves Cumulative Yield over 4 Years

Trickle Irrigation Improves Cumulative Crop Value over 4 Years

When and How Much to Irrigate1. If growers properly control fruit crop load

through precision thinning, drought can cause a reduction in fruit size and reduce crop value.

2. Irrigation quantity and frequency in NY is done by “feel” and “experience”.

3. We have developed an improved Penman-Monteith model for apple orchards and have developed a web tool to calculate apple orchard irrigation requirement.

Using the New Irrigation Model via the Web:

Cornell Web Server (NEWA)

Grower chooses weather station

Evapotranspiration Model(scales output for orchard age and for leaf area development)

Grower inputs:Green tip dateTree spacing (inrow x between row)Orchard age

Model Provides:Water balance daily since budbreakForecasts water balance for 7 days

http://newa.nrcc.cornell.edu/newaTools/apple et

2012Williamson

2012Williamson

Precision Irrigation1.Weekly log onto the Cornell

NEWA Irrigation website and calculate irrigation requirement for your orchard using the Cornell ET model

2.Apply proper amount of irrigation on a twice weekly basis from Mid-May until Mid-June.

3.Apply proper amount of irrigation on a thrice weekly basis from Mid-June to end of August.

Using the Model: Keep the Tank Full or 90% Full

What you can take home to the farm?• Trickle irrigation has a large impact on tree growth and yield

in the first few years and so should be installed early in the first year.

• In dry years fruit size is reduced which has large economic impacts,

• Using the ET model to precisely apply the proper amount of water will help ensure that proper fruit size is achieved each year.

• In dry years, the application of water should begin in early to mid-May. In other years, the application of water can be delayed until late May or mid-June.