Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/529491
www.goodfruit.com GOOD FRUIT GROWER JULY 2015 9 summer. Hence, these models predict that additional water stor- age in reservoirs or in the groundwater will be required in the future to maintain current levels of crop production. Irrigation Scheduler Peters, who is also an engineer, has worked with Gerrit Hoogenboom, Sean Hill, and Cynthia Tiwana of WSU's AgWeatherNet program to develop a simplified Irrigation Scheduler for all growers in Washington State. This Web-based program, which works on desktop computers and mobile devices, is based on a soil water budget model that considers water uptake by plants, existing water in soil, irrigation and rain inputs, and loss of water from plants to the atmosphere (evapotranspiration). Peters summarizes this model as "tracking water in and water out." In addition, Peters said that applying more water than the soil can hold results in water loss via deep percolation. He says that the more obvious water loss from surface runoff is typically small compared with water losses to deep percolation. Users of Irrigation Scheduler may log in through the AgWeatherNet site (weather.wsu.edu/ism/) and start using the system by entering information about their orchard or vineyard block. A grower chooses name of fi eld, crop, closest weather station, and soil texture (silt, loam, sand, etc.). The dashboard view shows an easy-to- read soil water gauge with a needle that goes from "Full" (100 percent) to "Dead" (0 percent) (see Figure 1). Growers may also interact with the program and change data or estimated numbers used in the model to fi gures more appropriate to their operations. Information returned includes the amount of irrigation needed to replenish the soil profi le on a given date as well as the irrigation history of that particular block. A seven-day advance forecast of water needed is available too. Growers may opt to receive "push" notifi cations on irrigation needs through email or text messaging. Since this Irrigation Scheduler was released in 2013, hundreds of growers have been using it. The program is available in ten western states and Alberta, Canada; it can access data from nine agricultural weather networks. Peters plans to expand to Midwestern states this year. Contact Troy Peters at troy_peters@wsu.edu for more information. Holly Ferguson, Ph.D, is a research associate with Washington State University, Prosser. A version of this story originally appeared on goodfruit.com. ONLINE See our special online web page with tips and information for low-water conditions: goodfruit.com/drought Call us FIRST for the largest selection of trees and rootstocks available Future contracts for cherries, pears, & apples; ALL ROOTSTOCKS. NEW APPLE rootstock! 1-800-421-4001 Phone: 503-538-2131 Fax: 503-538-7616 E-mail: info@treeconnect.com Web: www.treeconnect.com INC. Representing Over 30 Leading Nurseries in the U.S. and Europe From the breeders of Bud 9: • Vigor between M-9 T337 and M-9 Pajam®2 • Yield efficiency similar to M-9 T337 • Dwarfing • Cold hardy • Disease resistant • Fireblight tolerant B10 ® cv. Mich 96 USPP 21,223 Services are FREE TO GROWERS!