- Author: Ben A Faber
Microirrigation systems include microsprinklers for tree crops, drip emitters for trees, vines, and some row crops, and drip tape for row and field crops. Microirrigation systems apply water to the soil through emitters that are installed along drip lines and contain very small flow passages. Microirrigation systems can apply water and fertilizers more uniformly than other irrigation methods. This uniformity results in potentially higher yields, higher revenue, and reduced irrigation operating costs.
Uniformity, a performance characteristic of irrigation systems, is a measure of the evenness of the applied water throughout the irrigation system. Distribution uniformity (DU), sometimes called emission uniformity (EU), is an index...
- Author: Lisa Nedlan UCCE Master Gardener
Ollas (pronounced oh-yahs) are ceramic jars, often unglazed, used for cooking, storing water or dry foods, or irrigating plants. They have been around for over 4000 years and can be found around the world. Ollas for irrigation are clay vessels/pots (with lids) that are buried in the soil to water crops. Ollas can save gardeners time, energy, and water. Plants watered this way do not undergo water stress (as long as the gardener keeps the olla filled).
Here is how it works: the clay pot is buried, with only the top opening above the soil surface. It's then filled with water. The olla walls are porous, meaning they have tiny holes. This allows water to flow out of the vessel into the soil. However, the pores are...
- Author: Elinor Teague
Here in the Central Valley, summer heat spikes are becoming more frequent and lasting longer with extremely high daytime and nighttime temperatures. Regular deep, slow irrigation of mature landscape and crop-producing trees is key to keeping them in good health during heat spikes. The goal is to maintain soil moisture in root zones at a depth of 1 to 2 feet.
We need to deep irrigate more frequently than the previously recommended once a month and deep irrigation must begin at least one day before temps are predicted to be above 95 to 100 degrees for several days.
Check soil moisture levels underneath large landscape trees and deep irrigate whenever the top 5 to 6 inches of soil is dry. That could be...
- Author: Ryan Daugherty
I recently helped one of our local student gardens install a drip irrigation system in some raised beds. During the installation, I had to explain why we were using ½” tubing for most of our system instead of ¼”. Some believed that using the smaller tubing would give us better pressure, like putting your thumb over the mouth of a garden hose. I explained why this would actually result in less pressure and worse water distribution throughout our system. This misconception is common, so I thought I'd discuss it here.
If you think there's no way I'm about...
- Author: Pamela S Kan-Rice
On May 7, scientists from University of California, Riverside, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, Colorado State University Extension, Kansas State University, University of Arizona, Central Arizona Project, and USDA-Agricultural Research Service will gather with growers in Palm Desert to discuss how artificial intelligence can be used in agriculture.
“Artificial intelligence can be used by farmers to save water, improve fertilizer efficiency and increase productivity,” said Khaled Bali, UC Cooperative Extension irrigation water management specialist and organizer of the workshop. “At this workshop, growers will hear about the latest research on AI...