Precise Irrigation Could Boost Raspberry Health,
Production
By Laura McGinnis May
16, 2007
Where is the best place to water raspberries—from above ground or
below? That's a persistent question for berry growers throughout the Pacific
Northwest.
About 80 percent of the nation's raspberries are grown in California,
Oregon and Washington, and irrigation methods tend to vary regionally. But are
growers choosing the best watering methods to maximize their plants' growth,
yield potential and general health? New research from Agricultural Research
Service (ARS) scientists aims to answer
that question.
Plant physiologist
David
Bryla and his colleagues in the
ARS
Horticultural Crops Research Unit, Corvallis, Ore., are examining two
irrigation methods to evaluate how each affects raspberry plants' yield and
susceptibility to root rot. Improved irrigation methods could reduce the
disease's frequency and severity, with major benefits for plant health and
fruit production.
The scientists planted Meeker and Coho plants and watered them via
overhead sprinklers or subsurface drips. They also applied varying amounts of
water to different plants in order to observe the effects of over- and
under-watering.
Results showed that the amount of water received affected berry yield
more than the way the water was delivered. Neither irrigation method had a
significant effect on yield. The sprinkler system produced more fruit-bearing
canes, called floricanes, per plant and more berries per cane, but the berries
were smaller, particularly on insufficiently irrigated plants.
In addition to producing larger fruit, drip irrigation considerably
reduced the amount of water required. The scientists found no root rot in
either cultivar.
It's worth noting that the study was conducted during the plants'
first year of production, and that results may differ in older plants. Further
testing will determine how mature plants respond to the same watering
conditions. The scientists will also adjust the irrigation schedule, applying
water more liberally before harvest, to more closely mirror a typical growing
environment.
The results of this study could help raspberry growers throughout the
Pacific Northwest make better informed management decisions to promote the
health and productivity of their crops.
ARS is the chief in-house scientific research agency for the
U.S. Department of Agriculture.
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