Water and nutrient management for high quality fruit
Author: Denise Neilsen, Gerry Neilsen, Linda Herbert, Eugene Hogue, Tom Forge, Peter Toivonen
Published: 2004
Summary: The objectives of this project were: 1. To determine the effects of mulching and organic amendment, irrigation method and scheduling and N management on performance of a young fruiting block of Braeburn/M.9 (Naches site). 2. To determine the effects of irrigation system, mulching and organic amendment and N management on tree performance and fruit quality, the vertical and horizontal distribution of soil moisture, indicators of plant water stress, and to create water, N and P budgets for young year-old Braeburn/M.26 (Summerland site). 3. To investigate the use of polyacrylamide gel (PAM) on soil moisture retention in relation to irrigation management and mulching. 4. To determine the feasibility of using plant sensors to measure tree response to water stress. 5. To complete the fifth year of a trial (4th fruiting year) comparing N and P fertilization effects on fruit yield and to investigate the link between P and fruit quality. 6. To determine the effects of timing of foliar Ca sprays and soil Ca applications on fruit quality.
