Phytomonitoring technique for tuning irrigation of fruit trees.
Ton Y., Kopyt M., Zachs I., Ben-Ner Z.
Author Affiliation: PhyTech Ltd., Yad Mordechai, Israel.
International Water & Irrigation 22 : 48-49
Abstract : Large-scale field tests of phytomonitoring technique and instrumentation were carried out during 2000-2001 in Israeli orchards and plantations under the supervision of the Israeli Ministry of Agriculture. The standard phytomonitoring systems were installed in apple, plum, peach, kiwi, mango, persimmon orchards and avocado, citrus, table grapes and banana plantations. The following main indications of plant status were used: trends of trunk and fruit daily maximums; response of the trends to variable environmental factors; trunk and fruit diurnal contraction. Trunk shrinkage of grapes was evident during drought conditions. However, water content was replenished and irrigation induced trunk diameter as well as berry growth. Water stress for avocado plants showed a retardation in growth and trunk diameter. Lowering of soil water content and uniform amount of irrigation resulted to favourable growth conditions also on the other tested plants. On the other hand, higher irrigation pulse had good consequences for trunk and fruit growth of apple and pomelo trees. Regular daily water and multiple pulses with the same water discharge were tested on persimmon trees. The second regime provided higher tolerance of fruit growth to drought conditions. Fruit daily contraction was also less pronounced for pulse-irrigated plants. These results confirmed the effectiveness of the phytomonitoring technique for tuning irrigation in accordance with the local environmental conditions and plants' peculiarities.