Location: Water Management Research
2017 Annual Report
Accomplishments
1. Thermal infrared for scheduling irrigation in peach trees. Remotely-sensed canopy temperature from infrared thermometer sensors can be an effective method for detecting plant water stress in some field crops. To help alleviate water shortage, researchers in Parlier, California, conducted a multi-year field study. New algorithms were developed and validated for determining levels of water stress and scheduling postharvest deficit irrigation for peach trees using canopy temperature. The experimental site consisted of six irrigation treatments including furrow, micro-spray, and surface drip irrigation systems with and without postharvest deficit irrigation in a four-acre early maturing peach orchard. Results showed that the number of fruits and fruit weight from trees under postharvest deficit irrigation treatment were less than those from well-watered trees; however, no statistically significant reduction in fruit size or quality was found for trees irrigated by surface drip and micro-spray irrigation systems. This research demonstrated that deficit irrigation controlled by infrared sensors could be a practical alternative method for peach growers to manage limited water supply.
Review Publications
Zhou, Q., Zhu, H., Banuelos, G.S., Yan, B., Liang, Y., Yu, X., Cheng, X., Chen, L. 2017. Effects of vegetations and temperature on nutrient removal and microbiology in horizontal subsurface low constructed wetland for treatment of domestic sewage. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution. 228(2017):95. doi: 10.1007/s11270-017-3280-1.
Zhu, H., Banuelos, G.S. 2017. Evaluation of two hybrid poplar clones as constructed wetland plant species for treating saline water high in boron and selenium, or waters only high in boron. Journal of Hazardous Materials. 333(2017):319-328. doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2017.03.041.
Banuelos, G.S., Dhillon, K.S. 2017. Overview and prospects of selenium phytoremediation approaches. In: Pilon-Smits, E.A.H., Winkel, L.H.E., Lin, Z., editors. Selenium in Plants: Molecular, Physiological, Ecological and Evolutionary Aspects. Springer International Publishing. p. 277-321.
Zhang, H., Wang, D., Gartung, J.L. 2017. Influence of irrigation scheduling using thermometry on peach tree water status and yield under different irrigation systems. Agronomy Journal. 7(1):12. doi: 10.3390/agronomy7010012.
Centofanti, T., Banuelos, G.S., Wallis, C.M., Ayars, J.E. 2017. Deficit irrigation strategies and their impact on yield and nutritional quality of pomegranate fruit. Fruits. 72(1):46-53. doi: 10.17660/th.2017/72.1.5.
Ayars, J.E., Phene, C.J., Phene, R.C., Gao, S., Wang, D., Day, K.R., Makus, D.J. 2017. Determining pomegranate water and nitrogen requirements with drip irrigation. Agricultural Water Management. 187:11-23. doi: 10.1016/j.agwat.2017.03.007.
Qin, R., Gao, S., Thomas, J.E., Wang, D., Hanson, B.D. 2017. Off-tarp emissions, distribution, and efficacy of carbonated fumigants in a low permeability film tarped field. Science of the Total Environment. 603-604:1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.06.001.