Summary: Improving Irrigation Efficiency in Pears: Long Case Study
Tianna DuPont, WSU Extension discusses with grower Brandon Long the results of a case study plot they implemented in a pear block with a history of cork. Watering using data from irrigation sensors reduced cork and improved profitability in the block. Virtual Field Day hosted by Tianna DuPont, WSU Extension, Troy Peters, WSU Biological Systems Engineering, Lee Kalcsits, WSU Horticulture. Project funders and supporters include the Fresh Pear Committee, WSU Extension, Bonneville Environmental Foundation, Cascadia Conservation District, S&W Irrigation, Wilbur Ellis.
Text Transcript with Description of Visuals
| Audio | Visual |
|---|---|
| So Brandon, you invited us to work in this block because there’s been some challenges in this block, right? Tell me a little bit about what is your biggest challenge in this block. | Tianna and Brandon stand in a pear orchard in front of an irrigation sensor which is placed in the ground. |
| I would say cork. Especially recently, cork has been the biggest challenge in this block. So, when you said you wanted to do an irrigation experiment, I said “yes” because anything could help. We didn’t even pick in 2017 it was that bad. | They remain in place as the conversation continues. |
| That’s tough. So, we put in the 2 sensors and you watered using the sensors in one half of the block and regular in the other half of the block. What sort of differences did you see in the soil moisture in those different areas? | Tianna nods and then gestures to the soil moisture sensor. |
| We saw pretty clearly, I could log in and see, that the soil moisture in the control block, so the regular block, was moist all the time, saturated. And you could see that, you’d walked out put a shovel in the ground or kick it and it was wet right underneath the surface. | A chart appears on screen showing the output of the soil moisture sensors. It shows that the control block remained saturated with water the entire season. |
| The difference being here, where we used the sensors we stayed within that “good zone.” Once we hit the refill point, we’d turn on the irrigation and bring it back up. And that worked well. | Another chart appears on screen showing the output of soil moisture sensors on the block that was irrigated using the sensors. It shows that the soil moisture stayed within an optimal zone between the refill point and the full point. |
| So, what did you end up with? Did it do anything for your fruit quality? | |
| It ended up being a significant benefit. There was almost a 10 percent improvement, less cork out of this block with the packouts at the end of the year. | A bar graph appears on screen which shows the pounds of cork culls per acre in the standard vs. upgraded irrigation system for 2019. The standard is 5,504 pounds and the upgraded is 1,844 pounds. |
| That’s what we want to see. I’m sure it’ll be refining year to year. | |
| But it was something that worked, that’s awesome. | Brandon shrugs and then continues talking. |
| Was the sensor pretty easy to use? | |
| Yeah, I’d say if I could use it anyone could use it. | Brandon nods, then continues speaking |
| That’s what I want to hear. | Both smile and laugh. |
| It was definitely user friendly. The readouts were clear, the graphs are awesome. I could just glance at it and not have to read the numbers and know where I was; very helpful. | |
| Thanks for letting us hear a little bit about it and thanks for sharing. | A credit slide appears that contains collaborators, funding, and author information. |
