The aim of the study (2011-2013) was assessment of growth and yielding of apple trees (‘BeniShogun'/M.9) grown in replanted orchard. Undersowing the trees with white mustard and irrigation (performed on the basis of soil moisture measurements) were the experimental factors. Irrigation significantly affected plant growth, whereas no positive effect of white mustard application on performance of apple tree was observed. The trees started to yield in the third year after planting and yielding was different in the subsequent years of the study. A positive influence of irrigation on yield and fruit quality was observed. Undersowing the trees with white mustard reduced fruit yield and worsened its quality. It was especially visible on the non-irrigated plots. The results confirmed high effectiveness of irrigation of apple trees grown in replanted apple orchards ...
The aim of the study was to estimate water requirements of strawberry nursery grown under protected conditions. Strawberry mother plants were cultivated in pots filled with a mixture of peat and coconut substrate. The plants were irrigated by a drip system. Watering frequency was controlled by a developed prototypical weight-based irrigation scheduling system. This system enabled automatic control of irrigation depending on actual plant water requirements. The results showed usefulness of the developed system for scheduling the irrigation of strawberry. The obtained data on irrigation frequency and water application rates provided information on actual evapotranspiration of strawberry nursery (ETr). Reference evapotranspiration (ETo) was calculated using Grabarczyk equation on a basis of temperature and air humidity data. Having both ETo and ETr values made it possible to calculate crop coefficient (Kc) for strawberry nursery. Kc varied from 0.05 in February (just after planting the mother plants) to 0.62 at the end of cultivation period (before harvesting the plantlets). ...
Poland has one of the smallest fresh water resources in Europe. Due to variability of Polish climate, irrigation became an indispensable element of intensive horticultural production. Recent study has shown that Polish farmers do not use any criteria to estimate plant water requirements for controlling irrigation, which leads to waste of water and energy. This is because userfriendly technologies enabling rational use of water resources are not easily available. The objective of the project is to develop an effective system for control of irrigation in ornamental nurseries, based on measurements of plant parameters, soil conditions and climatic data. To realize this approache the crop coefficient (k) for several important nursery species should be determined. Also the method of restricted irrigation (Regulated Deficit Irrigation - RDI) to control plant shape and plant quality will be tested on several important nursery cultivars. Additionally quantitative and qualitative evaluation of drainage water originated from container ornamental nurseries will be performed. The technology developed within the project will become the key element of the strategy of rational plant irrigation in ornamental nurseries. This is novel, hitherto not implemented approach to the problem of rational irrigation water use in plant production ...
