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*Effect of mulching on water use by apple trees
panel and then
in lysimeter plots, 2001
m
nitrogen producing crop like alfalfa.
Trunk Irrig. water saved
the tree row. This will
owed and cast into O
diameter H2O used/tree (L) by mulching (%)
d
excessive vigour in trees at the
n heavier soils that can produce
Non-mulched Mulched
w
eal very effectively e
25 1009 466 54 pests as an issue.
ith cost, but leaves h
xpense of cropping, Dr. Hogue and
Natural predators can
levels of percentages of tall fescue in
is associates are including various
50 2427 2072 15
be very effective.
the alfalfa mix. In the future we will
quite likely see a specific mixes for
c
* Table supplied by Dr. Eugene Hogue
C certain soil and rootstock types.
quality. Climate change, due to
urrent levels of production and
excellent job.
oyotes will do an
increased temperatures, will increase
grower Peter Waterman can be
— Horticulturist and longtime
plant demand for water. Various
nitrogen that can be applied with a
Another factor is the amount of
reached by e-mail: peter@omedia.ca
models indicate that these increases
will be in the order of 15 to 30 percent
or higher to produce the levels of
production and quality that we have
now.
RIGHT ... FROM THE START
Start your orchard RIGHT with Willow Drive Nursery’s
mulched young trees and smaller trees
The table above indicates that
may reduce their water use by as
Proven Performers
TM
. Call for complete and updated inventory.
much as 54 percent and older
Calling us t
Contact us no
oday can help y
w f
ou t
or 20
omorr
1
o
0
w!
cropping trees may reduce their
demands by as much as 15 percent.
Note from the table that over the year
APPLES
mulched the younger trees used only
466 litres of water per tree verses
Ambrosia
TM
It
®
Red Delicious
1009 liters for un-mulched trees.
Brookf_ield
®
Gala Joburn Braeburn
TM
Larger mature, cropping trees used
Buckeye
®
Gala Manchurian Crab Apple
2072 litres per tree compared to no
Cameo
TM
Morren’s
®
Jonagored Supra
mulching where 2427 litres were
Eve
®
Baeburn Redmax McIntosh
required over the season.
Granny Smith Ruby Jon
®
Honeycrisp
TM
Smoothee
®
if things seem too good to be true, they
This is one of those instances where
Imperial
®
Gala Snowdrif_t Crab Apple
probably are. Mulches and herbicides
Indian Summer Crab Spartan
can range in cost from $100 per acre
per year for Roundup, to $400 per
acre per for applied alfalfa mulch. In
addition, there can be difficulties with
CHERRIES
rodent control, both mice and
gophers.
Benton
®
Lapins Skeena
TM
Bing Rainier Sweetheart
focusing primarily on alfalfa/grass
The next generation of trials is
Chelan
TM
Regina Tieton
®
mixes grown in place in the tractor
PEARS
Bartlett D’Anjou
Columbia Red D’Anjou
®
Forelle
Concorde
TM
Golden Russet Bosc
®
Red Clapp’s Favorite
Call your local Willow Drive representative
Rick Turton
Kelowna, BC
(250)860-3085
Canadian Farm Business
Management Council
Web Site: www.willowdrive.com
Ephrata, Washington
Main Office 1-888-548-7337
16 British Columbia FRUIT GROWER • Fall 2009
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