Author
|
Submitted to: Progressive Crop Consultant
Publication Type: Trade Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 1/10/2017 Publication Date: 1/23/2017 Citation: Wang, D. 2017. Thermal infrared sensors for postharvest deficit irrigation of peach. Progressive Crop Consultant. 2:6-9. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: California has been in a historic drought and the lack of water has been a major problem for agriculture especially for crops that depend on irrigation. A multi-year field study was carried out to demonstrate the feasibility of applying thermal infrared sensors for managing deficit irrigation in an early-ripening peach. The multi-year study demonstrated that deficit irrigation and infrared thermal sensing are potential management strategies for reducing overall crop water use and monitoring tree water stress. Peach tree water status can be estimated from thermal infrared temperature sensors in real-time, and the remotely sensed temperature data correlated to stem water potential measurements using the pressure chamber method. Future work includes determination of optimum amount of water deficit that can be used without causing unacceptable yield losses. |
