Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/418083
www.goodfruit.com GOOD FRUIT GROWER DECEMBER 2014 77 M.G. Wagner Co., Inc. R O O F I N G S P E C I A L I S T S Serving Central Washington for Over 75 Years 1401 Hathaway Yakima, WA 98902 Fax: 509-453-0592 Phone: 509-575-0934 mgwagnerroofing.com References available •SERVING THE FRUIT AND FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES •DESIGN AND CONSULTING SERVICES •ROOF INSPECTION AND ESTIMATES AVAILABLE NOW SCHEDULING WORK FOR 2015 add organic matter to the soil. Roots also exude simple organic materials that are quickly used by soil organisms close to the roots, i.e. in the rhizosphere. Simply and cheaply allow weeds to grow in winter (Figure 2), but kill them with herbicide in spring (Figure 3) so that they will not compete with the tree roots for nutri- ents, water and space. Slash the dead weeds in the alley, and throw the slashings up onto the tree row to mulch the surface soil. Fauna such as earthworms will gradually mix the organic residues with the soil. In this way you will build up organic matter in the tree row and protect the soil surface from heavy raindrops. That is, the stable covered soil will not erode, water and nutrients will not be wasted in runoff, and a dense hard impermeable crust will not form on the soil. The organic mulch of dead weeds in the tree row: —cools the top 50 mm of soil in summer, and avoids temperatures that are lethal to roots; —decreases evaporation from the surface of the soil, although some of the water saved is lost by deep drainage; —stores more water in the soil; —keeps the soil well aerated; —provides extra storage space for tree roots that grow up into the mulch; —improves soil structure; —protects the soil from lethal high temperatures in summer. Straw mulches are costly to apply, but also mulched soil without fine roots from live weeds or a cover crop also becomes hard and restricts tree roots, even though the soil is stable. • Figure 2 9ROXQWHHUZHHGVKDYHFRYHUHGWKHHQWLUHRUFKDUG½RRU during winter in this Open Tatura orchard with Granny Smith trees. PHOTOS COURTESY OF JUDITH TISDALL. Figure 3 Weeds in the tree rows were killed with Roundup (glyphosate) in the spring (mid-August in the southern hemisphere) so that they will not compete with the trees for water and nutrients, and the mulch and dead roots of weeds will continue to improve the structure of the soil. Now A Safer, More Cost Effective Alternative To Traditional Ammonia CA. . . The Frigadon HYCOOL® Secondary Refrigeration System Provides A Non-toxic CA Environment In Canada Call . . . 250-210-2015 or Email . . . info@versatilerefrigeration.com In the Northwest Call . . . 509-969-4577 or Email . . . info@versatilerefrigeration.com The Frigadon HYCOOL® Secondary Refrigeration System is designed to meet the environmental concerns of today and the future. Mechanical Access Mezzanine at Valicoff Fruit Mechanical Access Mezzanine at Valicoff Fruit t Non-toxic heat transfer fluids t Reduce insurance cost with built-in safety features t New techniques and state-of-the art technologies t Increased life expectancy of the system t Centrally located mechanical unit engineered to provide flexibility of serving several buildings t Installation costs are less expensive and require less time than complex ammonia CA facilities t Existing ammonia CA can be readily converted www.VersatileRefrigeration.com Frigadon HYCOOL® Coolers at BC Tree Fruit Coop Frigadon HYCOOL® Coolers at BC Tree Fruit Coop D r. Judith Tisdall is editor of the journal Soil & Tillage Research, and senior lecturer in soil science at La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia. Bas Van den Ende is a tree fruit consultant in Australia's Goulburn Valley.