Using New Technology as a Guide for Irrigation in 2009

The "Niagara Irrigation Advisory" project has been funded by OMAFRA, OTFPMB, GGO, NPF&VGA and WIN and is continuing for 2009. You will be able to download local weather data from the various weather stations as well as be informed on irrigation advisories. To receive this information, follow these steps:

1. Go to www.weatherinnovations.com
   
2. Click on "Products and Services", and then click onto the "Niagara Region Info". You can choose general weather information, disease pressure maps, as well as the "Niagara Irrigation Advisory".
   
3. Under the "Niagara Irrigation Advisory", you can learn several of the technical aspects of irrigation practices. Click under "C-probe Analysis Reports" to read specific and current reports commenting on ETo, ETc, solar radiation and soil moisture conditions at each of the 4 irrigation locations. Snapshots are taken of the 4 c-probe graphs weekly and are added to the reports. Contact Wayne Heinen if you would like real-time access to the C-Probe soil moisture graphs.
   
4. Click under "Rainfall Analysis Graphs" to view accumulated rainfall comparisons to the previous year

The same 2 grape and 2 peach sites located in Niagara-on-the-Lake and Vineland areas are being monitored in 2009 using C-Probe soil moisture sensors. The project is in its second year, initially advancing from the 2007 COWSEP funded project "Determining Irrigation Needs by Monitoring On-Farm Soil Moisture" completed by the Brace Centre/McGill University in cooperation with OMAFRA, WIN and 4 growers in Ontario. Information on the current 4 sites is shown in the following:

Peach Sites

• Chris Andrewes site - Jordan Road, McDougal farm, Jordan Station (Cultivar - Harblaze nectarine, 11 year old)
  
• Kai Wiens site - 905 Concession 2, RR6, NOTL (Cultivar - Allstar - 5th leaf, adjacent cultivars - Harrow Fair, Bellaire, Bounty, Fantasia)

Grape Sites

• Bill George site - 3896 Lakeshore Road, Vineland (Cultivar - Chardonnay - 22 year old)
  
• Dave Lambert site - 370 Line 1, RR2, NOTL (Cultivar - Vidal - 13 year old)

A C-Probe records volumetric soil moisture data by using capacitance sensors. The sensors are mounted on a column that is inserted into a PVC access tube in the ground. A standard C-Probe may have up to six sensors on the column. The sensors can be placed at any depth required by the grower. Typically, most sensors are placed near the portion of the plant's root zone that draws the most water from the soil. WIN often uses a C-Probe recording soil moisture at 10 cm (4 in), 30 cm (~1 ft) and 50 cm (~2 ft) depths.

The data from each sensor is processed by an electronic circuit on the C-Probe and is transmitted to a telemetry communication unit. The unit stores the data then relays it to a central base station, where they are processed. Chatham, Ontario is WIN's central processing location.

Stay Tuned

The old rules of 1" of rain per week for fruit trees or 4 gallons per day for Concord grape vines may be useful but new technology may help growers to determine if they really have applied enough water and if it was done on a timely basis. There are still key growth phases that growers need to keep in mind when irrigating. For peaches, Stage 1 - rapid growth and cell division which lasts approximately 30 days after bloom; Stage 2 - the "lag phase" or the time of pit hardening marks the start of this phase when fruit size increase is very slow even though the embryo inside the seed is rapidly growing, the length of this stage is very dependent upon the cultivar; and Stage 3 - cell expansion which usually starts occurring 4 weeks prior to harvest. The critical stages for irrigating are Stages 1 and 3, but stage 2 should also have adequate moisture. For grapes, keep moisture levels high for the 4 week period between bloom and fruit set when growth is rapid and water demand is high. Maintain an adequate moisture level throughout the reminder of the season reducing slightly after veraison. Growers will need to stay tuned by connecting to the WIN website, code-a-phone (905-708-6620) and reading updates in the "Tender Fruit Grape Vine" newsletter.

Related links:

• How to access weather data from the Irrigation Monitoring Demonstration Project
• Irrigation in 2008 - HELP!
• Irrigation in 2008 - HELP! (Part 2)