Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/622402
34 JANUARY 15, 2016 Good Fruit Grower www.goodfruit.com Third-generation stone fruit grower Bill Chandler is one of those moving to microsprinklers when he plants new stone fruit orchards. A longtime supporter of research, the Selma producer has adopted regulated deficit irrigation in his wine grapes and almonds and year-round inte- grated pest management, among other practices. But Chandler said he is cautious about reducing peach irrigation because of the potential for split pits and other fruit defects. Nevertheless, he remains interested in research that would help the industry better manage water. " I t ' s i m p o r t a n t because we're worried about having enough water because of the drought," he said. "So if we can be more effi- cient with the water and when we're apply- ing it on the trees, that would be beneficial." As part of Ayars' trial, the trees received full irrigation, or 100 percent of the evapo- transpiration (ET) rate, from March through May harvest. Then randomized blocks received 100, 50 or 25 percent ET following harvest until the end of the season. All blocks received the same commercial thinning, pruning and fertil- izer treatments. At the end of each harvest, researchers counted and removed defective fruit. They "Drought's a way of life in California. Hopefully this will be a wake- up call, and people won't revert back to their old ways." —James Ayars goodfruit.com Ross Courtney, Associate Editor TRUSTED More growers come to us for their news than anywhere else. Ross Courtney ASSOCIATE EDITOR The essential resource goodfruit.com Portable Wind Machines the standard Honda engine Noise wind machine Mobile Affordable Distributed in the US by Contact us for more information or to place an order: 206.437.8738 www.chamberlinag.com New Model – galvanized, has auto sunburn and splitting – cool/dry to prevent – easy to move with a tractor or truck and raise the arm for immediate use Be sure you have the frost protection you need, when you need it! – protects up to 10 acres – low operation costs – makes half the noise of any other – 1.5 gallons of fuel p/h – lower boom to safely service Frost Protection Evaporative Cooling High Performance Service start/choke/throttel and comes in propane