Outline Water for Horticulture Crops how much & when? Alberta Farm Fresh School 2017 Olds, AB Weather/Climate Data Resources in Alberta Horticulture Crops s Total Amounts Impacts of Excess/Deficits Best Watering Method Alberta Climate Information Service www.agriculture.alberta.ca/acis Lots of stations to choose from Not all of them have the same data 1
Select your station and/or weather parameters Only stations that contain that data can be selected Alberta Climate Information Service You can also access: Many, many maps Climate and Atlas maps Weather conditions Accumulation maps Etc. Weather Radar imagery Forecasts CROP??? Specific H 2 O amounts and timings Approx. H 2 O/week Seasonal H 2 O requirements CROP WATER USE Suggested irrigation method Impacts of water deficit or excess 2
CUCURBITS Cucumbers development During rapid growth & fruit sizing ~1inch (25mm) after seeding/transplanting 1 inch / 7days 200 250mm / Pointed and cracked fruit Reduced vine growth Reduced fruit quality Pumpkins development ~1 inch (25mm) after seeding/transplanting 1 inch in 14 days 200 250 mm / Squash development ~1inch (25mm) after seeding/transplanting 1 inch / 10 days 200 250mm / Blossom end rot Reduced fruit set Pointed and misshapen fruit Melons development ~1inch (25mm) after seeding/transplanting 1 inch / 10 days 200 250mm / POTATOES Blossom End Rot 3
Potatoes Tuber initiation & sizing ~5.5 6 mm per day Up to 550mm / Secondary growth Misshapen tubers Reduced tuber size Reduced yields COLE CROPS Cabbage 380 500mm / 1 inch / 10 days Broccoli 380 500mm / 1 inch / 5 days Head formation and Head formation and Leaf tip burn Bursting (over H20) Growth cracks Buttoning Small, premature head development Strong flavour Cauliflower 380 500mm / 1 inch / 5 days Head formation and Buttoning Small, premature head development Leaf tip burn Ricey curd SUCCULENT LEGUMES 4
Beans During flowering & pod set 25 38mm per week 1 inch / 5 7 days Peas Flowering, pod set & fill 5.5 6 mm per day 375mm / Poor pod fill Pithy pods Shriveled pods Blossom end rot Garlic 25mm per week (minimum) Bulb formation & BULB VEGGIES Early bulb formation Reduced bulb size? Dry Onions Bulb formation & 4 5mm per day (peak use) 350 500mm / FRUITING VEGGIES Early bulb formation Poor bulb size 5
Tomatoes 1 inch (25mm) per week 1 inch / 5 7 days Eggplants 1inch (25mm) per week (depending on soil type) Blossom End Rot Fruit cracking Blossom End Rot Misshapen fruit Peppers 1 inch (25mm) / 7 days LEAFY GREENS Blossom End Rot Shriveling Lettuce Don t allow soil profile to become depleted Spinach Don t allow soil profile to become depleted 1inch / 7 days Germination & throughout growth Germination & throughout growth Leaf tip burn Head bursting Reduced turgidity? Bolting Wilting? 6
Beets 1 inch / 14 days Root fill ROOT VEGGIES Growth cracks Carrots 4 6mm per day 1 inch / 21 days Radishes Don t allow to dry out 1 inch / 5 days General growth & root fill Root fill Small, woody roots Misshapen and split roots Forking Growth cracks Pithy roots Sweet Corn Tasseling, pollination & ear filling 6mm per day 1inch / 14 days 510mm per OTHER VEGGIES Poor ear fill; 7
Asparagus During establishment During harvest ~2 inches (50mm) after harvest 1 inch (25mm) at end of 1 inch (25mm) / 10 days STRAWBERRIES Shriveling Strawberries During flowering, fruit set & fill Don t allow to dry out Apply water in frequent, light applications 6 8mm every 2 days 1 inch (25mm) / week after mowing (renovation) Field cool (DN) during high temperatures (>28 C) Reduced number of leaves, runners & crowns Reduced flower numbers Reduced number of fruit per plant Reduced fruit size Increased rate of ripening Reduced growth & photosynthesis Softer fruit RASPBERRIES Raspberries 5 8mm per day 35 37mm / week from blossom to harvest During flowering, fruit set & fill Reduced fruit size Increased seediness SASKATOON BERRIES 8
Saskatoon berries 160,000 180,000L / acre / During flowering, fruit set & fill Reduced fruit size and juiciness OTHER FRUIT Bush Fruit 1inch / 7days Apples 1 inch / 7days During flowering, fruit set & fill Reduced fruit size and juiciness Early fruit set Flower formation Fruit fill In late summer, prior to dormancy Reduced branch growth during establishment Small or dropped fruit Late moisture can delay dormancy and result in increased winter injury Rob Spencer, BSA, MSc, P.Ag. Commercial Horticulture Specialist robert.spencer@gov.ab.ca QUESTIONS??? Alberta Ag Info Centre 310 FARM 9