- 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 technology for agriculture and about the experiences of growers who are already testing it in their fields.”
Speakers and topics will include:
- Raj Khosla, Kansas State University - AI for precision nitrogen and water management in row crops
- Michael Cahn, UC Cooperative Extension - CropManage decision support tool for irrigation and nutrient management
- Daniele Zaccaria, UC Cooperative Extension - Citrus crop water use and open ET in the low desert of California
- Nan Li, UC Riverside - Estimating soil moisture using remote-sensing and land surface parameters in the Central Valley of California.
- Ali Montazar, UC Cooperative Extension - Promises and pitfalls of drip irrigation in desert cropping systems
- Khaled Bali, UC Cooperative Extension - Deficit irrigation strategies for alfalfa in California
- Philip Waisen, UC Cooperative Extension - Environmentally conscious practices for managing soilborne diseases in low desert vegetable production
- Peter Moller, Rubicon Water - On-farm water conservation projects: surface irrigation
- Ronnie Leimgruber, Imperial Valley grower - On-farm water conservation projects: linear move, basin and subsurface drip irrigation
- Rick Benson, Imperial Valley grower - Alternative cropping systems for the low desert region of California: olives and other crops
The workshop will be held at the UCR Palm Desert Center at 75080 Frank Sinatra Drive in Palm Desertfrom 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on May 7. It costs $30 per person and includes lunch. Register at https://bit.ly/AImay7.
- Author: Ben Faber
Microirrigation for Crop Production: Design, Operation, and Management, Second Edition is the latest release in this go-to foundational resource for the basics of engineering and the science of the design and operation of micoirrigation systems. This new edition includes novel methods for measurement and estimation of evapotranspiration, resource-efficient microirrigation design and operation, advanced irrigation scheduling methods and tools, novel methods and technology of microirrigation automation, monitoring and control, updates in crop salinity tolerance and leaching practices, variable rate irrigation, updates on the use of biological effluents and chemicals and pesticides to include safety and regulatory concerns.The revised book provides an understanding on the basic science needed to comprehend systems design, operation, management, maintenance, monitoring and performance evaluation.
Editors: James E. Ayars, Daniele Zaccaria, Khaled M. Bali
- Author: Rosie D
Welcome to March! This is the time when your roses are starting to break out from dormancy. It is a good time for garden maintenance before the big flower display in April.
If you didn't do this last month, take some time and check your irrigation system to make sure it is working correctly. Make repairs if it is not. My garden is strictly on drip. Yes, I did go through every emitter to make sure it was an adequate size and working, and cleaned out the valves to make sure they were free from sediment. It is worth the time.
If your watering system isn't drip, run your sprinklers in the morning (only on days that we can water) before the day warms up. This will avoid moisture evaporating or collecting on leaves which can (during the warmer months) result in sunburn or (during the cooler months) make it favorable for fungal diseases to develop on your roses. If you have sprinklers, avoid watering in the evening or at night. This will prevent excessive ground moisture at night. Soil that is too wet can lead to unhappy roots and/or fungal diseases. Avoid watering when it is windy, so the water doesn't evaporate into the air instead of watering your roses.
If you are thinking you might want to use fungicide to prevent fungal diseases from happening, I would encourage you to wait and see if they develop. Only spray if you see fungal diseases or pests that can't be managed by any other means.
If you believe you must spray, no matter what, here are some dos and don'ts. Don't spray on a windy day. Don't spray during the late morning, afternoon or evening hours. Don't spray when bees are out (even organic sprays). Don't spray when it is over 80 degrees F as it can burn your plants. Don't spray on a rainy day or if it is going to rain the next day. Don't spray if your pets (or your neighbor's pets) are in the yard. Don't spray if your children/grandchildren/neighbors are in the yard. I cannot stress enough that spraying is serious. You must take precautions.
If you choose to spray, you can use a lime sulfur spray or a horticultural oil mixed with a dormant spray for fungal diseases. You need to wear an appropriate face mask (N95), gloves, closed-toe shoes (no sandals or slippers), and disposable coveralls or a safety suit. Yes, anytime you spray your roses for insects or diseases, it is serious business. You can hurt yourself or others if you don't. That includes organic sprays as well, such as neem oil, BT, etc. Just because something is labeled organic, doesn't mean it can't hurt you, your neighbors, pets, birds, bees, etc. Shower, including washing your hair, after spraying. Those chemicals (yes, even organic ones) need to be stored appropriately. Don't mix chemicals because you think that it will be better for the plants. Follow directions on the label. Leftover sprays and their containers need to be disposed of, appropriately. If all of this sounds like a lot of work, it is. There are alternatives!
I remove leaves that have powdery mildew, rust, etc., if I get it. New ones will grow in. Mostly, I don't get fungal diseases. That is because I try to choose disease-resistant varieties for my yard (and we generally have low humidity). I also practice shovel pruning. If the rose is a disease-ridden mess, out it goes. I grow roses for my own enjoyment and their beauty. I don't have time to baby them. Some roses do better than others in our climate. I want the ones that do well in my yard.
I clean up debris from my roses and place it in the green bin. It does not go in my compost pile. I also keep a good 3 to 4 inches of organic mulch around my roses to stop weeds in their tracks and keep my roses roots cool in summer and warm in winter. It also helps to keep my soil moist so I can water less. The mulch will eventually break down and help improve the soil in my yard. The soil in my yard left something to be desired when I first moved here. After several years, it has greatly improved due to using compost and mulch (not rubber mulch!) that eventually breaks down and improve the soil.
I attract the “good bugs” such as lady bird beetles, lacewings, etc., by planting pollinator plants in my garden. Flowering native plants such as yarrow (Achillea), California buckwheats (Eriogonum), seaside daisy (Erigeron), sticky monkey-flowers (Mimulus), tidy tips (Layia platyglossa), etc., attract the “good bugs” that will eat the “bad bugs.” Native plants are great choices. They are beautiful and they are drought tolerant. These plants also attract birds to my yard. They too will eat the “bad bugs” and they are quite amusing to watch.
If you have the space for new roses, there is still time to purchase them and get them into the ground or a large pot. I like ordering roses online from several different sources. I find a greater variety online and end up with terrific plants. Also, the people who work at these nurseries tend to know the plants they sell and can make useful recommendations about what will or won't work in my garden.
When the new growth on your roses is about 2 to 3 inches long, you can start fertilizing. I recommend a good organic rose fertilizer. It will contain micro elements that will help to improve your soil and your plant. Synthetic fertilizers do not. In reality, as I have written before, your plant doesn't care what you buy, organic or inorganic. However, organic fertilizers won't burn your plants or add salts to your soil (synthetic fertilizers are made of various salts — not the kind of salt you eat). Organic fertilizer will help to build your soil over time. As your soil improves, you will be able to use less fertilizer but have the same result.
When you apply fertilizer, make sure the soil is moist. Water before and after your application. You can also spray your roses with seaweed (kelp) fertilizer. Roses love it. It may smell for a day or two but I have smelled much worse when it comes to fertilizers.
Again, test your soil before you fertilize. Don't fertilize just to fertilize. You are wasting your hard-earned money (which you could be spending on plants!). More is not better! I have had great results with just compost and a good layer of organic mulch (not rubber mulch).
Next month…we should be seeing some beautiful spring blooms! If you can, take some time to enjoy all of the new and beautiful spring growth in your yard.
Until next time . . . "Friends are the roses of life. . . pick them carefully and avoid the thorns!" - Unknown
- Author: Saoimanu Sope
In late January, the University of California Nursery and Floriculture Alliance co-hosted the 62nd Western Region International Plant Propagators' Society (WR-IPPS) Annual Meeting in Temecula.
UCNFA, associated with the Nursery and Floriculture Workgroup of UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, is a statewide partnership of researchers and educators, growers, floriculture associations and allied industries. It serves the educational needs of California's agricultural industries that produce greenhouse crops and nursery products including vegetable seedlings, ornamentals, fruiting trees, vines and shrubs.
“Up until 2007 and before almonds and grapes became a big deal, nursery and floricultural products were the top crop commodity in the state,” said Loren Oki, specialist emeritus of Cooperative Extension at UC Davis and co-director of UCNFA. “Nurseries and floriculture are a $3.6 billion industry in California, but not many people know about it.”
Since its inception in 1951, IPPS has sought and shared plant production knowledge globally with an emphasis on nursery production. Oki has been a member of IPPS since the 1980s. His father, George, who owned and operated Oki Nursery, helped establish the Western Region in the 1960s, paving a path for Oki who served as president of WR-IPPS in the 1990s.
Although this year was the first that UCNFA co-hosted, Oki is confident that it won't be the last. “We're already planning a conference for the fall in conjunction with WR-IPPS. Since the target audience of UCNFA are growers, it just makes sense to partner with growers for these events,” Oki said.
This year's meeting involved 145 attendees, 29 exhibitors and 23 speakers and occurred over four days – two of which were dedicated to grower tours and the other two offering educational presentations in both English and Spanish, another first for WR-IPPS.
Gerry Spinelli, UC Cooperative Extension production horticulture advisor for San Diego County and member of UCNFA's administrative committee, was instrumental in coordinating the event. When he wasn't moderating sessions or facilitating Q&A, Spinelli was sharing his expertise on measuring pressure, distribution uniformity and improving irrigation management in English and Spanish.
“It's rewarding to see so much statewide interest in nurseries and floriculture,” said Spinelli. “WR-IPPS is a great opportunity to showcase the extraordinary San Diego nursery and greenhouse industry on an international stage, and a perfect occasion for clientele to meet our new UC Cooperative Extension advisors.”
Bruno Pitton, who became the UCCE environmental horticulture advisor for Placer and Nevada counties in November, appreciated the increase in science-based talks compared to previous years.
“Before, there were more talks on production practices from grower to grower. This year, I noticed that there's more science extension talks – which is a good thing,” said Pitton, who also gave a presentation on nitrogen management in nursery production and irrigation training.
Recent UC ANR hires like Emma Volk, production horticulture advisor for Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, had the opportunity to learn not only from industry leaders nationwide, but fellow ANR colleagues. For example, she heard Don Merhaut, UCCE specialist for nursery and floriculture crops based at UC Riverside, present on controlled release fertilizer dynamics in containers during a one-year growing cycle for Southern California.
UCCE advisors and specialists had a significant presence at this year's meeting, leaving a positive impression on attendees, including Tony Shireman, WR-IPPS president, who said that partnering with UC ANR experts helps IPPS achieve its mission to seek and share plant knowledge globally.
“We're fortunate to have connections to people like those joining us from Cooperative Extension. It allows us to expand our knowledge and extend our reach,” Shireman said.
Johanna Del Castillo Munera and Kosana Suvocarev, two professors of Cooperative Extension at UC Davis, also attended and joined Spinelli for both English and Spanish sessions. Del Castillo Munera presented on disease challenges and management for nurseries, and Suvocarev talked about crop water requirements for irrigation scheduling in nurseries and greenhouses.
“There's a good sense of community here and there's a lot of passion from the speakers,” said Grant Johnson, UCCE urban agriculture technology advisor for UCCE Los Angeles and Orange counties, adding that he valued the opportunity to learn from growers and scientists simultaneously.
After attendees spent an entire day touring local nursery and floriculture operations and learning from growers in North San Diego County and Riverside County, they concluded the day with a dinner and keynote address from Karen Ross, California Department of Food and Agriculture secretary.
On the last day, Chris Shogren, UCCE environmental horticulture advisor for Los Angeles County and member of UCNFA's administrative committee, and Eric Middleton, UCCE integrated pest management advisor for San Diego, Los Angeles and Orange counties, talked about pest and pathogen management. The advisors offered fascinating visuals including photos comparing the size of agave mites to a penny, and led a stimulating Q&A session.
To learn more about the UC Nursery and Floriculture Alliance, visit https://ucnfa.ucanr.edu/.
- Author: Elinor Teague
As of the writing of this blog at the end of January, the Fresno/Clovis/Madera region has received only 2.79 inches of rain so far this water season, less that 25 percent of the yearly average of 11.01 inches. Unless the Central Valley receives heavy rainfall this spring, we will once again be experiencing severe drought conditions. NOAA scientists have recognized a correlation between drought periods and heat spikes. As the soil in the Valley dries out and warm dry air rises, high pressure domes form over our area, which causes temperatures to rise to extreme levels. We can anticipate that the Central Valley will also experience heat spikes along with the drought this year.
Our efforts to conserve water and also maintain the health and vigor of trees and plants in our gardens should begin in earnest this month.
There are quite a few types of irrigation devices easily available to home gardeners. Lawn sprinklers include both overhead and pop-up types. Up to 60 percent of the water applied by overhead sprinklers can be lost to evaporation, runoff and overly deep irrigation. Using pop-up or ground level sprinklers can minimize water loss somewhat. During drought periods and especially during heat spikes, irrigation of lawn grasses should be stopped or at least reduced to a bare minimum.
The amount of water and the irrigation pattern applied by emitters varies by emitter type. Choosing the right rate flow for each plant size and species and the best watering pattern is a very important part of irrigation design.
All types of irrigation systems should be on timers and those timers should be adjusted often to maintain soil moisture levels to the minimum needed to keep plants alive. When heat spikes are predicted, trees and plants should be deep irrigated before the spikes occur. Smart timers that are connected to the internet as well as local weather stations can be programmed and controlled by phone apps. Digital hose end timers can be programmed to turn on several times a day on a seven-day schedule with a rain mode option. There are simpler and cheaper hose end timer models as well. The old-school manually programmable timers as well as more advanced models that are wired to an electrical source are still available.
Sources:
California Agriculture magazine, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources