Purdue University is an equal access/equal opportunity institution.
Liz Maynard and Erin A. BluhmDepartment of Horticulture and Landscape [email protected] 219-508-1429February 22, 2018 Wakarusa Product AuctionWakarusa, Indiana
Drip Irrigation in High Tunnels
IrrigatingTomatoesinHighTunnelswithDripIrrigation• Howoften?
• Howlong?
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IrrigatingTomatoesinHighTunnelswithDripIrrigation• Howoften?
Ø SizeofplantsØ Weather(heat,sun)Ø SoiltypeØ Sizeofrootzone
• Howlong?Ø Allofabove,plusØ EmitterspacingØ EmitterflowrateØ PressureØ Leaks
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HowMuchWaterDoTomatoesNeed?
• 1to1.5inches/week,or0.14to0.30inchesperday• Lessforsmallercrop,cool,cloudy,calmconditions• 1acre-inch=27,154gallons• 1.5acre-inch=40,731gallons
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DailyReferenceEvapotranspiration(inches)fromJune10throughSept.15,2011forPinneyPurdueAgCenter,Wanatah,Indiana.FromdataprovidedbytheIndianaStateClimateOffice,iclimate.org.
HowMuchWaterDoTomatoesNeed?• 1to1.5inches/week,or0.14to0.30inchesperday• Lessforsmallercrop,cool,cloudy,calmconditions• 1acre-inch=27,154gallons• 1.5acre-inch=40,731gallons
GallonsperBedLengthofBed X Width = Sq.Ft. /43,560 = Acres X 27,154 X
Acre-inch = Gallons
100 X 4 = 400 /43560 = .00918 X 27154 X 0.30 = 75X = /43560 = X X 0.30 = X = /43560 = X X 0.20 = X = /43560 = X X 0.15 = X = /43560 = X X 0.10 = X = /43560 = X X 0.05 =
HowMuchWaterDoTomatoesNeed?• 1to1.5inches/week,or0.14to0.30inchesperday• Lessforsmallercrop,cool,cloudy,calmconditions• 1acre-inch=27,154gallons• 1.5acre-inch=40,731gallons
GallonsperBedLengthofBed X Width = Sq.Ft. /43,560 = Acres X 27,154 X
Acre-inch = Gallons
100 X 4 = 400 /43560 = 0.062 X 27154 X 0.30 = 75X = /43560 = X X 0.30 = X = /43560 = X X 0.20 = X = /43560 = X X 0.15 = X = /43560 = X X 0.10 = X = /43560 = X X 0.05 =
X0.623
HowMuchWaterCanTheRootZoneHold?
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AvailableWaterperFootofSoil(in.)100% 40%
Sand 0.60 0.24SandyLoam 1.30 0.52Loam 1.80 0.72SiltLoam 2.20 0.88ClayLoam 1.90 0.76
AvailableWaterHoldingCapacity(AWHC):Amountofwaterbetweenfieldcapacityandpermanentwiltingpoint.FieldCapacity:Amountofwaterinsoilaftersaturatedsoilhasdrained.PermanentWiltingPoint:Amountofwaterinsoilwhenplantswiltanddonotrecover.Formanyvegetables:keepsoilmoisturebetween60%and100%ofavailablewater.Don’tusemorethan40%ofavailablewaterholdingcapacitybeforeirrigating.
...dependsonthesoiltype
SelectedElkhartCountySoilsAvailableWaterHoldingCapacity(in./foot)
Bristolloamysand,0.94inchBrookstonloam,1.94inchesCrosierloam,1.4inchesOshtemo,coarse-loamy,1.52inchesOsolo loamysand,1inchRiddles,fineloamy,1.78inchesTynerloamysand,0.94inch
5Source:USDA-NRCS.SoilSurveyofElkhartCounty.
HowMuchWaterCanTheRootZoneHold?
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Loamsoil:AWHC=1.8inch/ft.depth18inchrootingdepth(1.5ft.)1.8inches/ft.X1.5ft.=2.7inchesAWinrootzone
1driptapewets24inches(2ft.)For100-ft.bed,area=100X2=200sq.ft.
2.7in.X0.623gal/in./sq.ft X200sq.ft.=336gallonsAvailableWaterin100-ft.bed
1inchover1sq.ft.=0.623gallons1cubicfoot=7.48gallons
Sandyloam:AWHC=1.3inch/ft.depth18inchrootingdepth(1.5ft.)1.3inches/ft.X1.5ft.=1.95inchesAWinrootzone
1driptapewets12inches(1ft.)For100-ft.bed,area=100X1=100sq.ft.
1.95in.X0.623gal/in./sq.ft X100sq.ft.=121gallonsAvailableWaterin100-ft.bed
Sandyloam:AWHC=1.3inch/ft.18inchrootingdepth(1.5ft.)1.3inches/ft.X1.5ft.=1.95inches
1driptapewets12inches(1ft.)2driptapesperbedFor100-ft.bed,area=100X2=200sq.ft.
1.95in.X0.623gal/in./sq.ft X200sq.ft.=
243gallonsAvailableWaterin100-ft.bed
...dependsonthewettedzoneANDrootingdepth
HowMuchWaterCanTheRootZoneHold?
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336gallonsAvailableWaterin100-ft.bed
40%=0.4X336=134gallons
1inchover1sq.ft.=0.623gallons1cubicfoot=7.48gallons
121gallonsAvailableWaterin100-ft.bed
40%=0.4X121=48gallons
243gallonsAvailableWaterin100-ft.bed40%=0.4X243=97gallons
...don’tusemorethan40%
HowMuchWaterCanTheRootZoneHold?– HowManyDays?
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1 2
336gallonsAvailableWaterin100-ft.beddon’tusemorethan40%=0.4X336=134gallons
121gallonsAvailableWaterin100-ft.beddon’tusemorethan40%=0.4X121=48gallons
243gallonsAvailableWaterin100-ft.bed- don’tusemorethan40%=0.4X243=97gallons
...don’tusemorethan40%
PlantWater Use DaysofWateracre-inch gal./day Soil 1 Soil2 Soil30.30 75 1.8 0.6 1.30.20 50 2.6 0.9 1.90.15 37 3.6 1.3 2.60.10 25 5.3 1.9 3.80.05 12 11.2 4.0 8.0
Gallonsofwaterusebasedon100ft.X4-ft.bed(400sq.ft.)
134/75=
3
MonitorSoilMoistureMonitorattwodepths
–1/3and2/3ofrootingdepth–Example:6inchesand12inches
Isittimetoirrigate?–Soilmoisturebelow75%AWHC–Soilwatertensionmorethan10– 30kPa orcentibars
Isenoughwaterapplied?Toomuch?–Watershouldreachbottomofrootzone–Ifdeeperdepthisdryingout,increaseapplication–Ifdeeperdepthstayswet,decreaseapplication
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SoilMoistureMonitoringMethods
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TensiometersSoilMoistureBlocks,WatermarkSensorsFeelMethod
SoilMoistureMonitoringMethods
HowLongShouldIrrigationRun? ...dependsonhowmuchwater,emittertype,emitterspacing,pressure,lengthofdriptape
Water Flowper100ft.ofTape
GallonsofWaterDesiredper100ft.ofDripTape20 40 60 80 100 120
gal.perhour gal.perminute Estimatedhourstorunirrigation
24 0.4* 0.8 1.7 2.5 3.3 4.2 5.0
36 0.6** 0.6 1.1 1.7 2.2 2.8 3.3
48 0.8 0.4 0.8 1.3 1.7 2.1 2.5
60 1.0 0.3 0.7 1.0 1.3 1.7 2.0
*0.24gph peremitterand12-inchemitterspacing**0.24gph peremitterand8-inchemitterspacing
HowLongShouldIrrigationRun? ...dependsonhowmuchwater,emittertype,emitterspacing,pressure,lengthofdriptapeMeasureWaterFlowinYourSystem
Amountofwaterin15minutesfromindividualemittersEmitter1:8 fl.oz.Emitter2:10 fl.oz.Emitter3:6 fl.oz.Emitter4:12 fl.oz.Average:(8 + 10 + 6 +12)/4 = 9 fl.oz.Emitterspacing:12 inchesGallonsperHourper100ft.=(Fl.oz./15minutes)X(emitterspacing)X0.2604
(9 X12) X0.2604 =28gallonsperhourper100ft..2604=[(60mph/15min)*100ft.]/(128oz./gal.*12in./ft.)
Purdue University is an equal access/equal opportunity institution.
High Tunnel Tomato Irrigation Trial, 2017
Where:PinneyPurdueAgricultureCenter,Wanatah,IN
When:March24(seed),April27(transplant)– August30
2tunnelsHT1OrganicHT2Conventional
2varietiesBigBeefRedDeuce
72plants6harvests
July25– Aug28
April2017soiltests
HT-1,Organicpreplant:90lbs./ANfrom13-0-0(NatureSafe®pelletednitrogenblendingbase)(1286lbs./A)
HT-2,Conventionalpreplant:30lbs./ANfrom46-0-0(Shaw’sTurfFood® urea)
HT-2,Conventional,additionalnitrogen:6lbs./A/wk NfromUAN(2.01gal/A/wk)fertigation forsixweeks8lbs./A/wk NfromUAN(2.68gal/A/wk)fertigation forfiveweeks
Tunnels:6bedspertunnel,3’x42’3bedsinirrigationtrial3irrigationtreatments,21ft.each12plantspertreatment
Plants:’RedDeuce’,‘BigBeef’seededMarch24transplantedApril2721inchesapart
Treatment1wateredasneeded,6”tensiometers exceed20kPasoilwatertension
Treatment2wateredoncedaily,10-40minuteintervals
Treatment3watered4timesaday,5-11minuteintervals
X X X X
T3
T1 T1
T3
T3T2
T2
Weeklywatervolumethesameforalltrts.
DIGLEITSolarTimerwithIn-LineValveambientlightpoweredirrigationcontroller
X XX X
Bed 6
Bed 5
Bed 4
Bed 3
Bed 2
Bed 1
SoilMoistureMonitoredTwoWaysTensiometer (kPa)
HOBOSoilMoistureSmartSensor(m3/m3)
SoilMoistureMonitoredTwoWays
6inch
6inch2
Avg.6inch
18inch
Galsper bed
HT1Tensiometer ReadingsfromMay2- September14,2017
HT1SoilMoisturefromMay2- September14,2017
VWCB PCTMinVWCB PCTMaxVWCB PCTMean
Gals perBed
HT2Tensiometer ReadingsfromMay2- September14,2017
6inch
6inch2
Avg.6inch
18inch
Galsper bed
HT2SoilMoisturefromMay2- September14,2017
VWCB PCTMinVWCB PCTMaxVWCB PCTMean
Gals perBed
HighTunnel
Treatment1 Treatment2 Treatment3Total
gallons1Avg.gals./bed/wk.2
Totalgallons
Avg. gals./bed/wk.
Totalgallons
Avg. gals./bed/wk.
1 2015 115 2095 119 2132 1212 2056 117 2096 119 2026 115
WaterAppliedperTunnelandTreatment(May2– Sept1,2017)
1Totalgallonsappliedpertreatment,perbedbytunnelforthegrowingseason2Averagegallonsappliedpertreatment,perbed,perweekbytunnelduringthegrowingseason
1bed=42ft.,4-ftbedspacing=168sq.ft.120gal/bed/week=0.72gal/sq.ft =1.15acre-inches/weekor0.16acre-inches/day
OrganicFertilized5timeswithSeaPlusFish&Seaweed3-2-2emulsion,250ppmN
ConventionalFertilized5timeswithPeter’sPeteLiteSpecial20-10-20,250ppmN
GradingandWeighing
USDANo.1– Allsizes
USDANo.2– Allsizes
Cull– catface,crack,zipper,insect,blossomendrot,abnormalcolor,other
OrganicBigBeefAugust1harvest
Treatment1 Treatment2 Treatment3
OrganicRedDeuceAugust1harvest
Treatment1
Treatment2
Treatment3
ConventionalBigBeefAugust1harvest
Treatment1 Treatment2 Treatment3
ConventionalRedDeuceAugust1harvest
Treatment1
Treatment2
Treatment3
TotalUSDANo.1andNo.2Fruitper
Plant
AverageWt.per
MarketableFruit
IrrigationTreatment No. Wt.(lbs.) Wt.(lbs.)BigBeef1.Std. 32.5 16.7 0.522.1X/day 30.2 15.6 0.523.4X/day 36.3 17.2 0.48Significance NS NS NSRedDeuce1.Std. 23.1 15.3 0.692.1X/day 25.2 16.3 0.663.4X/day 23.8 15.4 0.66Significance NS NS NS
EffectsofIrrigationTreatmentsonNumberofFruitandYield(lb.)forTwoVarieties
EffectsofIrrigationTreatmentsonNumberofFruitandYield(lb.)forTwoVarieties
TotalUSDACullFruitperPlant
TotalRedandGreenFruitperPlant
IrrigationTreatment No. Wt.(lbs.) No. Wt.(lbs.)BigBeef1.Std. 7.6 3.4 55.4 24.22.1X/day 8.2 3.5 47.0 21.23.4X/day 10.1 3.8 58.3 24.5Significance NS NS NS NSRedDeuce1.Std. 7.4 4.1 34.4 20.82.1X/day 4.9 3.0 35.5 21.33.4X/day 8.1 4.2 38.4 21.8Significance 0.006 NS NS NS
TomatoYieldforThreeIrrigationTreatments,BigBeefandRedDeuce
USDANo.1FruitUSDANo.2FruitUSDACullFruitGreenFruit
BIGBEEF REDDEUCE
FruitW
eightp
erPlant(lb.)
IrrigationTreatment
CultivarName
TotalUSDANo.1andNo.2Fruitper
Plant
AverageMarketable
FruitTunnel No. Wt.(lbs.) Wt.(lbs.)BigBeefHT1 36.1 17.1 0.48HT2 29.9 15.9 0.53Significance NS 0.04 NSRedDeuceHT1 27.6 15.8 0.58HT2 20.5 15.6 0.77Significance NS NS NS
EffectsofHighTunnelsonNumberofFruitandYield(lb.)forTwoVarieties
TotalUSDACullFruitperPlant
TotalRedandGreenFruitperPlant
Tunnel No. Wt.(lbs.) No. Wt.(lbs.)BigBeefHT1 7.9 2.8 57.2 23.6HT2 9.4 4.4 49.9 22.9Significance NS 0.057 NS NSRedDeuceHT1 6.1 2.5 38.6 19.9HT2 7.5 5.1 33.6 22.8Significance NS NS NS 0.017
EffectsofHighTunnelsonNumberofFruitandYield(lb.)forTwoVarieties
TomatoYieldforThreeIrrigationTreatments,BigBeefandRedDeuce,inTwoHighTunnels
USDANo.1FruitUSDANo.2FruitUSDACullFruitGreenFruit
BIGBEEF REDDEUCE
IrrigationTreatment
FruitW
eightp
erPlant(lb.)
HighTunnelNum
ber
CultivarName
TomatoCullFruitforThreeIrrigationTreatments,BigBeefandRedDeuce,inTwoHighTunnels
BIGBEEF REDDEUCE
CultivarName
FruitN
umbe
rperPlant
IrrigationTreatment
HighTunnelNum
ber
CultivarNameBIGBEEF REDDEUCE
WinddamagetoHT2– May18
Maximumwindgustallover25mphfrom10:00to22:00Sustainedwindsaveragedmorethan15mph,mostlyover17mph
Possibleherbicidedrift
AdjacentfieldsprayedMay18,bleachingfirstobservedonMay26.Tunnelsclosedforanysprayinginnearbyfieldsafterinitialincident.
Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (whitemold,timberrot)– confirmedMay26
May16 July19June11
Thankyou!Questions?
Acknowledgments
PinneyPurdueAgCenter:J.Leuck,M.O’Neal,A.Leman
HLAVegetableCrew:S.Musgrave
DonatedSeed:HarrisMoranSeedCompany
ThisprojectwassupportedbytheU.S.DepartmentofAgriculture's(USDA)AgriculturalMarketingServicethroughgrant(SCBG-15-002).ThecontentsofthisreportaresolelytheresponsibilityoftheauthorsanddonotnecessarilyrepresenttheofficialviewsoftheUSDA.Collaborators:JamesFarmer,ProjectPI,andAnalena Bruce,ProjectPostDoc,IndianaUniversityBloomington