Sand Tanks

In 1999 we obtained 60 large (11' x 8' x 4' deep) plastic tanks and buried them in the ground at Kearney. We filled them with clean sand and planted a Zee Lady peach, Grand Pearl nectarine and Fortune plum in each. From 2000 until 2010, numerous nutrition and fertilization experiments were conducted on these trees. Many of the conclusions and pictures on this website were derived from these experiments.

Further reading

Sand Tank 2002 Report

Sand Tank 2003 Report

Refining Deficiency Levels

Sand tank study - click on photo to enlarge

Digging trench for row of sand tanks in stone fruit nutrition study

Tanks in place and ready to be filled with sand

Drainage system for sand tank nutrition experiments

Tanks filled with sand and ready for planting in nutrition study

Stone fruit trees planted in sand tanks for nutrition experiments