Managing Orchard Irrigation
1. Presentation
Characterization of the technique
Description of the technique:
Information originally from the Guide for the design of fruit production systems that are economical in phytopharmaceutical products (2014) / Technical sheet no. 3. For more information see link
The technique:
Irrigation is a cultural control method. This technique does not directly belong to the field of plant protection, but can act on the development of pests either through the mode of water supply, the irrigation doses, or a combination of both.
Indeed, irrigation systems localize water inputs differently within the orchard, which modifies the microclimatic conditions within the canopy and can influence the development of pests, particularly diseases.
It also influences the mechanical properties related to the water status (turgor) of organs with possible direct effects on pest development through complex processes (chemical stimuli involved in attractiveness and repulsion phenomena, assessment of food quality during feeding…).
In fruit production, irrigation management, in interaction with fertilization management, tree architectural management (winter pruning, green pruning, fruit shaping…), and fruit load management, strongly impacts tree vigor, which influences pest development by modifying the microclimate (ventilation, wetness duration, light exposure) within the canopy and by the growth dynamics of organs modulating periods of sensitivity or palatability depending on the developmental stage.
Choice of irrigation system:
The choice of irrigation system is often dictated by compromises between agronomic efficiency, the possibility of use for frost protection, mechanical weed control in the row, equipment cost, work organization constraints, etc.
Generally, irrigation systems that wet the foliage (sprinkler irrigation on canopy) or favor a humid microclimate in the orchard (sprinkler irrigation under canopy) promote disease development (e.g. Xanthomonas, moniliosis, scab, stemphylium, fire blight, bacterial diseases…).
However, sprinkler irrigation on canopy can be beneficial against certain pests (e.g. pear psylla, mites). Moreover, the duration and proportion of soil surface kept moist affect the dynamics of weeds emergence and growth in the tree row. Drip irrigation systems, especially buried drip irrigation which avoids wetting the soil surface, are the most likely to limit the development of weeds.
Conversely, maintaining moist soil by sprinkler irrigation can be a lever against certain pests (e.g. capnode which preferentially develops in dry soils).
Implementation period On established crop
Spatial scale of implementation Plot
Farm
Application of the technique to...
Regulation
2. Services provided by the technique
3. Effects on the sustainability of the cropping system
"Environmental" criteria
"Agronomic" criteria
"Economic" criteria
"Social" criteria
4. Organisms favored or disfavored
Pests favored
| Organism | Impact of the technique | Type | Details |
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Pests disfavored
| Organism | Impact of the technique | Type | Details |
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Beneficials favored
| Organism | Impact of the technique | Type | Details |
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Beneficials disfavored
| Organism | Impact of the technique | Type | Details |
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Favored climatic and physiological accidents
| Organism | Impact of the technique | Details |
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Disfavored climatic and physiological accidents
| Organism | Impact of the technique | Details |
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5. For further information
- Assessment of plant water status from micrometric variations in fruit or stem dimensions during the day.
- -Huguet J.G.
Agronomy 5, 733-741., Peer-reviewed journal article, 1985
- Cuticular cracking on nectarine fruit surface: Spatial distribution and development in relation to irrigation and thinning.
- -Gibert C., Chadoeuf J., Vercambre G., Génard M., Lescourret F.
J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 132(5), 583-591., Peer-reviewed journal article, 2007
- Effects of different irrigation regimes applied during the final stage of rapid growth on an early maturing peach cultivar
- -Mercier V., Bussi C., Lescourret F., Génard M.
Irrigation Science 27 (4), 297-306., Peer-reviewed journal article, 2009
- Effects of limiting irrigation and manual pruning on brown rot incidence in peach.
- -Mercier V., Bussi C., Plénet D., Lescourret F.
Crop Protection 27, 678-688., Peer-reviewed journal article, 2008
- Integrated fruit protection guide
- -Regional Chamber of Agriculture PACA and La Pugère Station
Regional Chamber of Agriculture PACA and La Pugère Station, Book, 2014
Objective info Arboriculture 8.
- Irrigation scheduling of an early maturing peach cultivar using tensiometers and diurnal changes in stem diameter.
- -Bussi C., Huguet J.G., Besset J., Girard T.
Fruits 54 (1), 57-66., Peer-reviewed journal article, 1999
- Pruning, irrigation and moniliosis on peach tree. Effects of practices on moniliosis attacks in peach orchards.
- -Mercier V., Gueldry H., Neraudeau E., Chauffour D.
Phytoma, Peer-reviewed journal article, 2005
Phytoma-La Défense des Végétaux, 581, 40-41.
6. Keywords
Pest control method: Cultural control
Mode of action:
Type of strategy regarding pesticide use:
Annexes
S'applique aux cultures suivantes
