Laserfiche WebLink
<br />r-- <br />C'-J <br />L'j <br />CJ <br />c-:; <br />'::'J <br /> <br />seems to be the small sprinklers which require <br />about 50 mesh screens as opposed to 200 mesh <br />screens for drip irrigation. <br /> <br />4. Water storage is a prime requisite for these systems <br />which replace the plant water requil:'ement on a daily <br />basis. <br /> <br />5. The use of microtubes of the larger diameter ,040" and <br />above seem to work as well as the manufactured variety <br />of drip emitters which often times cost twenty times' <br />as much. The microtubes also have an added advantage <br />of being able to compensate for pressure differential <br />caused by elevation changes. <br /> <br />6. Filters with automated back flushing devices are reliable <br />but costly. Vibrating sleeve filters are working well <br />and are about half the cost of sand filters. <br /> <br />7. Float devices for controlling water storage and supply <br />increase systems reliability for little cost. <br /> <br />8. Certain areas of the valley where thin soils overlay <br />gravel deposits, the drip system cannot be recommended <br />because the drip water tends to make a direct path to <br />the gravel with little plant root contact. <br /> <br />9, Tensiometers (1 & 2 ft. depth) should be placed 1 foot <br />from the emitter and should be kept below 20% satu- <br />ration at all times. Some knowledge of the daily <br />amount of water required by the tree is helpful. A <br />seven year old peach tree on a hot day will require <br />40 gallons of water. <br /> <br />J <br />10. Nutrition can be handled by injection into the system. <br />Chemical fertilizer is much more effective when it can <br />be supplied with the water. Monthly leaf samples are <br />a very good tool for determining whet:her there might <br />be a deficiency or surplus in nutrition. Since the <br />root soil contact is about 40% less 1:han in. furrow <br />irrigation, much of the nutrient must be added, but <br />it usually tends to be less than the amounts good <br />growers in the area are presently applying. <br /> <br />We have found that the following fertilizer application <br /> <br />works well: <br /> <br />1/3# N/tree <br />1/3# K/tree <br />1/5# P/tree <br /> <br />May 1 leaf analysis should be: <br /> <br />4% N. 2.5% K and .17% P. <br /> <br />-4- <br />