drip irrigation in high tunnelsirrigating tomatoes in high tunnels with drip irrigation • how...

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Liz Maynard and Erin A. BluhmDepartment of Horticulture and Landscape Architectureemaynard@purdue.edu 219-508-1429February 22, 2018 Wakarusa Product AuctionWakarusa, Indiana

Drip Irrigation in High Tunnels

IrrigatingTomatoesinHighTunnelswithDripIrrigation• Howoften?

• Howlong?

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IrrigatingTomatoesinHighTunnelswithDripIrrigation• Howoften?

Ø SizeofplantsØ Weather(heat,sun)Ø SoiltypeØ Sizeofrootzone

• Howlong?Ø Allofabove,plusØ EmitterspacingØ EmitterflowrateØ PressureØ Leaks

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HowMuchWaterDoTomatoesNeed?

• 1to1.5inches/week,or0.14to0.30inchesperday• Lessforsmallercrop,cool,cloudy,calmconditions• 1acre-inch=27,154gallons• 1.5acre-inch=40,731gallons

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DailyReferenceEvapotranspiration(inches)fromJune10throughSept.15,2011forPinneyPurdueAgCenter,Wanatah,Indiana.FromdataprovidedbytheIndianaStateClimateOffice,iclimate.org.

HowMuchWaterDoTomatoesNeed?• 1to1.5inches/week,or0.14to0.30inchesperday• Lessforsmallercrop,cool,cloudy,calmconditions• 1acre-inch=27,154gallons• 1.5acre-inch=40,731gallons

GallonsperBedLengthofBed X Width = Sq.Ft. /43,560 = Acres X 27,154 X

Acre-inch = Gallons

100 X 4 = 400 /43560 = .00918 X 27154 X 0.30 = 75X = /43560 = X X 0.30 = X = /43560 = X X 0.20 = X = /43560 = X X 0.15 = X = /43560 = X X 0.10 = X = /43560 = X X 0.05 =

HowMuchWaterDoTomatoesNeed?• 1to1.5inches/week,or0.14to0.30inchesperday• Lessforsmallercrop,cool,cloudy,calmconditions• 1acre-inch=27,154gallons• 1.5acre-inch=40,731gallons

GallonsperBedLengthofBed X Width = Sq.Ft. /43,560 = Acres X 27,154 X

Acre-inch = Gallons

100 X 4 = 400 /43560 = 0.062 X 27154 X 0.30 = 75X = /43560 = X X 0.30 = X = /43560 = X X 0.20 = X = /43560 = X X 0.15 = X = /43560 = X X 0.10 = X = /43560 = X X 0.05 =

X0.623

HowMuchWaterCanTheRootZoneHold?

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AvailableWaterperFootofSoil(in.)100% 40%

Sand 0.60 0.24SandyLoam 1.30 0.52Loam 1.80 0.72SiltLoam 2.20 0.88ClayLoam 1.90 0.76

AvailableWaterHoldingCapacity(AWHC):Amountofwaterbetweenfieldcapacityandpermanentwiltingpoint.FieldCapacity:Amountofwaterinsoilaftersaturatedsoilhasdrained.PermanentWiltingPoint:Amountofwaterinsoilwhenplantswiltanddonotrecover.Formanyvegetables:keepsoilmoisturebetween60%and100%ofavailablewater.Don’tusemorethan40%ofavailablewaterholdingcapacitybeforeirrigating.

...dependsonthesoiltype

SelectedElkhartCountySoilsAvailableWaterHoldingCapacity(in./foot)

Bristolloamysand,0.94inchBrookstonloam,1.94inchesCrosierloam,1.4inchesOshtemo,coarse-loamy,1.52inchesOsolo loamysand,1inchRiddles,fineloamy,1.78inchesTynerloamysand,0.94inch

5Source:USDA-NRCS.SoilSurveyofElkhartCounty.

HowMuchWaterCanTheRootZoneHold?

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Loamsoil:AWHC=1.8inch/ft.depth18inchrootingdepth(1.5ft.)1.8inches/ft.X1.5ft.=2.7inchesAWinrootzone

1driptapewets24inches(2ft.)For100-ft.bed,area=100X2=200sq.ft.

2.7in.X0.623gal/in./sq.ft X200sq.ft.=336gallonsAvailableWaterin100-ft.bed

1inchover1sq.ft.=0.623gallons1cubicfoot=7.48gallons

Sandyloam:AWHC=1.3inch/ft.depth18inchrootingdepth(1.5ft.)1.3inches/ft.X1.5ft.=1.95inchesAWinrootzone

1driptapewets12inches(1ft.)For100-ft.bed,area=100X1=100sq.ft.

1.95in.X0.623gal/in./sq.ft X100sq.ft.=121gallonsAvailableWaterin100-ft.bed

Sandyloam:AWHC=1.3inch/ft.18inchrootingdepth(1.5ft.)1.3inches/ft.X1.5ft.=1.95inches

1driptapewets12inches(1ft.)2driptapesperbedFor100-ft.bed,area=100X2=200sq.ft.

1.95in.X0.623gal/in./sq.ft X200sq.ft.=

243gallonsAvailableWaterin100-ft.bed

...dependsonthewettedzoneANDrootingdepth

HowMuchWaterCanTheRootZoneHold?

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336gallonsAvailableWaterin100-ft.bed

40%=0.4X336=134gallons

1inchover1sq.ft.=0.623gallons1cubicfoot=7.48gallons

121gallonsAvailableWaterin100-ft.bed

40%=0.4X121=48gallons

243gallonsAvailableWaterin100-ft.bed40%=0.4X243=97gallons

...don’tusemorethan40%

HowMuchWaterCanTheRootZoneHold?– HowManyDays?

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1 2

336gallonsAvailableWaterin100-ft.beddon’tusemorethan40%=0.4X336=134gallons

121gallonsAvailableWaterin100-ft.beddon’tusemorethan40%=0.4X121=48gallons

243gallonsAvailableWaterin100-ft.bed- don’tusemorethan40%=0.4X243=97gallons

...don’tusemorethan40%

PlantWater Use DaysofWateracre-inch gal./day Soil 1 Soil2 Soil30.30 75 1.8 0.6 1.30.20 50 2.6 0.9 1.90.15 37 3.6 1.3 2.60.10 25 5.3 1.9 3.80.05 12 11.2 4.0 8.0

Gallonsofwaterusebasedon100ft.X4-ft.bed(400sq.ft.)

134/75=

3

MonitorSoilMoistureMonitorattwodepths

–1/3and2/3ofrootingdepth–Example:6inchesand12inches

Isittimetoirrigate?–Soilmoisturebelow75%AWHC–Soilwatertensionmorethan10– 30kPa orcentibars

Isenoughwaterapplied?Toomuch?–Watershouldreachbottomofrootzone–Ifdeeperdepthisdryingout,increaseapplication–Ifdeeperdepthstayswet,decreaseapplication

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SoilMoistureMonitoringMethods

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TensiometersSoilMoistureBlocks,WatermarkSensorsFeelMethod

SoilMoistureMonitoringMethods

HowLongShouldIrrigationRun? ...dependsonhowmuchwater,emittertype,emitterspacing,pressure,lengthofdriptape

Water Flowper100ft.ofTape

GallonsofWaterDesiredper100ft.ofDripTape20 40 60 80 100 120

gal.perhour gal.perminute Estimatedhourstorunirrigation

24 0.4* 0.8 1.7 2.5 3.3 4.2 5.0

36 0.6** 0.6 1.1 1.7 2.2 2.8 3.3

48 0.8 0.4 0.8 1.3 1.7 2.1 2.5

60 1.0 0.3 0.7 1.0 1.3 1.7 2.0

*0.24gph peremitterand12-inchemitterspacing**0.24gph peremitterand8-inchemitterspacing

HowLongShouldIrrigationRun? ...dependsonhowmuchwater,emittertype,emitterspacing,pressure,lengthofdriptapeMeasureWaterFlowinYourSystem

Amountofwaterin15minutesfromindividualemittersEmitter1:8 fl.oz.Emitter2:10 fl.oz.Emitter3:6 fl.oz.Emitter4:12 fl.oz.Average:(8 + 10 + 6 +12)/4 = 9 fl.oz.Emitterspacing:12 inchesGallonsperHourper100ft.=(Fl.oz./15minutes)X(emitterspacing)X0.2604

(9 X12) X0.2604 =28gallonsperhourper100ft..2604=[(60mph/15min)*100ft.]/(128oz./gal.*12in./ft.)

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High Tunnel Tomato Irrigation Trial, 2017

Where:PinneyPurdueAgricultureCenter,Wanatah,IN

When:March24(seed),April27(transplant)– August30

2tunnelsHT1OrganicHT2Conventional

2varietiesBigBeefRedDeuce

72plants6harvests

July25– Aug28

April2017soiltests

HT-1,Organicpreplant:90lbs./ANfrom13-0-0(NatureSafe®pelletednitrogenblendingbase)(1286lbs./A)

HT-2,Conventionalpreplant:30lbs./ANfrom46-0-0(Shaw’sTurfFood® urea)

HT-2,Conventional,additionalnitrogen:6lbs./A/wk NfromUAN(2.01gal/A/wk)fertigation forsixweeks8lbs./A/wk NfromUAN(2.68gal/A/wk)fertigation forfiveweeks

Tunnels:6bedspertunnel,3’x42’3bedsinirrigationtrial3irrigationtreatments,21ft.each12plantspertreatment

Plants:’RedDeuce’,‘BigBeef’seededMarch24transplantedApril2721inchesapart

Treatment1wateredasneeded,6”tensiometers exceed20kPasoilwatertension

Treatment2wateredoncedaily,10-40minuteintervals

Treatment3watered4timesaday,5-11minuteintervals

X X X X

T3

T1 T1

T3

T3T2

T2

Weeklywatervolumethesameforalltrts.

DIGLEITSolarTimerwithIn-LineValveambientlightpoweredirrigationcontroller

X XX X

Bed 6

Bed 5

Bed 4

Bed 3

Bed 2

Bed 1

SoilMoistureMonitoredTwoWaysTensiometer (kPa)

HOBOSoilMoistureSmartSensor(m3/m3)

SoilMoistureMonitoredTwoWays

6inch

6inch2

Avg.6inch

18inch

Galsper bed

HT1Tensiometer ReadingsfromMay2- September14,2017

HT1SoilMoisturefromMay2- September14,2017

VWCB PCTMinVWCB PCTMaxVWCB PCTMean

Gals perBed

HT2Tensiometer ReadingsfromMay2- September14,2017

6inch

6inch2

Avg.6inch

18inch

Galsper bed

HT2SoilMoisturefromMay2- September14,2017

VWCB PCTMinVWCB PCTMaxVWCB PCTMean

Gals perBed

HighTunnel

Treatment1 Treatment2 Treatment3Total

gallons1Avg.gals./bed/wk.2

Totalgallons

Avg. gals./bed/wk.

Totalgallons

Avg. gals./bed/wk.

1 2015 115 2095 119 2132 1212 2056 117 2096 119 2026 115

WaterAppliedperTunnelandTreatment(May2– Sept1,2017)

1Totalgallonsappliedpertreatment,perbedbytunnelforthegrowingseason2Averagegallonsappliedpertreatment,perbed,perweekbytunnelduringthegrowingseason

1bed=42ft.,4-ftbedspacing=168sq.ft.120gal/bed/week=0.72gal/sq.ft =1.15acre-inches/weekor0.16acre-inches/day

OrganicFertilized5timeswithSeaPlusFish&Seaweed3-2-2emulsion,250ppmN

ConventionalFertilized5timeswithPeter’sPeteLiteSpecial20-10-20,250ppmN

GradingandWeighing

USDANo.1– Allsizes

USDANo.2– Allsizes

Cull– catface,crack,zipper,insect,blossomendrot,abnormalcolor,other

OrganicBigBeefAugust1harvest

Treatment1 Treatment2 Treatment3

OrganicRedDeuceAugust1harvest

Treatment1

Treatment2

Treatment3

ConventionalBigBeefAugust1harvest

Treatment1 Treatment2 Treatment3

ConventionalRedDeuceAugust1harvest

Treatment1

Treatment2

Treatment3

TotalUSDANo.1andNo.2Fruitper

Plant

AverageWt.per

MarketableFruit

IrrigationTreatment No. Wt.(lbs.) Wt.(lbs.)BigBeef1.Std. 32.5 16.7 0.522.1X/day 30.2 15.6 0.523.4X/day 36.3 17.2 0.48Significance NS NS NSRedDeuce1.Std. 23.1 15.3 0.692.1X/day 25.2 16.3 0.663.4X/day 23.8 15.4 0.66Significance NS NS NS

EffectsofIrrigationTreatmentsonNumberofFruitandYield(lb.)forTwoVarieties

EffectsofIrrigationTreatmentsonNumberofFruitandYield(lb.)forTwoVarieties

TotalUSDACullFruitperPlant

TotalRedandGreenFruitperPlant

IrrigationTreatment No. Wt.(lbs.) No. Wt.(lbs.)BigBeef1.Std. 7.6 3.4 55.4 24.22.1X/day 8.2 3.5 47.0 21.23.4X/day 10.1 3.8 58.3 24.5Significance NS NS NS NSRedDeuce1.Std. 7.4 4.1 34.4 20.82.1X/day 4.9 3.0 35.5 21.33.4X/day 8.1 4.2 38.4 21.8Significance 0.006 NS NS NS

TomatoYieldforThreeIrrigationTreatments,BigBeefandRedDeuce

USDANo.1FruitUSDANo.2FruitUSDACullFruitGreenFruit

BIGBEEF REDDEUCE

FruitW

eightp

erPlant(lb.)

IrrigationTreatment

CultivarName

TotalUSDANo.1andNo.2Fruitper

Plant

AverageMarketable

FruitTunnel No. Wt.(lbs.) Wt.(lbs.)BigBeefHT1 36.1 17.1 0.48HT2 29.9 15.9 0.53Significance NS 0.04 NSRedDeuceHT1 27.6 15.8 0.58HT2 20.5 15.6 0.77Significance NS NS NS

EffectsofHighTunnelsonNumberofFruitandYield(lb.)forTwoVarieties

TotalUSDACullFruitperPlant

TotalRedandGreenFruitperPlant

Tunnel No. Wt.(lbs.) No. Wt.(lbs.)BigBeefHT1 7.9 2.8 57.2 23.6HT2 9.4 4.4 49.9 22.9Significance NS 0.057 NS NSRedDeuceHT1 6.1 2.5 38.6 19.9HT2 7.5 5.1 33.6 22.8Significance NS NS NS 0.017

EffectsofHighTunnelsonNumberofFruitandYield(lb.)forTwoVarieties

TomatoYieldforThreeIrrigationTreatments,BigBeefandRedDeuce,inTwoHighTunnels

USDANo.1FruitUSDANo.2FruitUSDACullFruitGreenFruit

BIGBEEF REDDEUCE

IrrigationTreatment

FruitW

eightp

erPlant(lb.)

HighTunnelNum

ber

CultivarName

TomatoCullFruitforThreeIrrigationTreatments,BigBeefandRedDeuce,inTwoHighTunnels

BIGBEEF REDDEUCE

CultivarName

FruitN

umbe

rperPlant

IrrigationTreatment

HighTunnelNum

ber

CultivarNameBIGBEEF REDDEUCE

WinddamagetoHT2– May18

Maximumwindgustallover25mphfrom10:00to22:00Sustainedwindsaveragedmorethan15mph,mostlyover17mph

Possibleherbicidedrift

AdjacentfieldsprayedMay18,bleachingfirstobservedonMay26.Tunnelsclosedforanysprayinginnearbyfieldsafterinitialincident.

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (whitemold,timberrot)– confirmedMay26

May16 July19June11

Thankyou!Questions?

Acknowledgments

PinneyPurdueAgCenter:J.Leuck,M.O’Neal,A.Leman

HLAVegetableCrew:S.Musgrave

DonatedSeed:HarrisMoranSeedCompany

ThisprojectwassupportedbytheU.S.DepartmentofAgriculture's(USDA)AgriculturalMarketingServicethroughgrant(SCBG-15-002).ThecontentsofthisreportaresolelytheresponsibilityoftheauthorsanddonotnecessarilyrepresenttheofficialviewsoftheUSDA.Collaborators:JamesFarmer,ProjectPI,andAnalena Bruce,ProjectPostDoc,IndianaUniversityBloomington