Location: Horticultural Crops Production and Genetic Improvement Research Unit
Project Number: 2072-21000-055-023-G
Project Type: Grant
Start Date: Sep 1, 2021
End Date: Oct 31, 2025
Objective:
Determine water use efficacy of surface drip (SD) vs subsurface (SDI) irrigation delivery for management to optimize water use for winegrapes.
Approach:
Select small blocks of established winegrapes in commercial vineyards for installation of AutoWATERTM irrigation system and install soil moisture sensors, electronically activated water pumps and valves. Establish plots to receive either surface drip (SD) or subsurface (SDI) irrigation delivery;
Collect vine physiological data (gas exchange, mid-day stem water potential, and leaf temperature) at four dates to contrast vine response to treatment effects from mode of irrigation delivery (SD vs. SDI). Correlate physiological data with soil water content within the top 4-6 feet (0-180 cm) of the soil profile.
Quantify grape yield and quality characteristics between differing modes of water delivery (SD vs, SDI) and end of season. Submit grape samples for analyses at a commercial testing facility (ETS) located at Walla Walla, WA and perform statistical means separations on these data.
