Water use by drip-irrigated late-season peaches

• Published in: Irrigation science 2003-11, Vol.22 (3-4), p.187-194
• Main Authors: Ayars, JE, Johnson, R S, Phene, C J, Trout, T J, Clark, DA, Mead, R M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural production; Crop science; Crops; Cultivars; Evapotranspiration; Fruits; Interception; Irrigation; Water loss; Water resources management; Water use
• ISSN: 0342-7188; 1432-1319
• DOI: 10.1007/s00271-003-0084-4

A 4-year experiment was conducted using a large weighing lysimeter to determine the crop coefficient and crop water use of a late-season peach cultivar (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch, cultivar O'Henry) irrigated with a surface drip system. Two trees were planted in a 2×4×2 m deep weighing lysimeter that was surface irrigated with ten 2 L/h in-line drip emitters spaced evenly around the trees. Irrigation was applied in 12 mm applications after a 12 mm water loss threshold was exceeded as measured by the lysimeter. The crop coefficient (K^sub c^) was calculated using the measured water losses and grass reference evapotranspiration calculated using the CIMIS Penman equation. K^sub c^ was plotted against day of the year and linear, quadratic, and cubic regressions were fitted to the data. A three-segment linear and the cubic equation had the best fit to the data. The maximum K^sub c^ determined for the linear fit in this experiment was 1.06 compared with a maximum of 0.92 recommended for use in California and 0.98 calculated using the FAO method. Average annual water use for the 4 years of the experiment was 1,034 mm. Mid-day canopy light interception was found to be well correlated with the crop coefficient determined using the lysimeter data.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]