June 2020 - 23

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Stay alert to cherries' water needs
While the cherry harvest has
come and gone already for
some growers, the majority will
soon find themselves in that
water-critical month prior to
harvest - and they've been
urged to keep irrigation at the
front of their minds.
This last month before harvest
is a crucial stage for the cherry
fruit as it bulks out, matures and
ripens. But in a bid to conserve
water supplies and improve
their orchard sustainability
many growers now practice
regulated deficit irrigation (RDI),
increasing the need for wateruse
efficiency.
" The period between the end of
pit hardening and harvest sees
rapid cell division in the fruit, "
says Mike Williams of OMEX®
.
" It's a water-dependent process.
It's also when next season's
flower buds start to develop.
" If your irrigation calculations
and RDI approach are leading
you towards an irrigation rate of
only 55 or 60 per cent ET, then
it's vital that the tree can access
and utilize all that water, " he
points out.
" The research and evidence for
RDI is good, you want to reduce
" If your soil's water penetration
is compromised, the trees can
effectively find themselves
under-irrigated - the lower
rootzone dries out. Meanwhile,
near-surface roots remain
saturated - which can make
them more susceptible to root
diseases - and the excessive
soil moisture can favor crown
and collar rot. "
Physical or chemical in origin,
water penetration issues
your water use, you know it
won't affect your yield. But
that's a carefully calculated
decision; you can't afford much
leeway. The sums have to be
accurate so that the tree gets
what it needs. "
'Pre-flight' checks, to base
irrigation decisions on firm
evidence, will already have been
carried out by most growers.
" Soil moisture levels, water
composition, soil samples -
all those should already be in
your log, as the basis for your
irrigation calculations.
" So far, so good. Now you need
to be sure that the tree is able
to access as much as possible
of that reduced water volume, "
Williams warns.
can be addressed relatively
simply. While physical causes,
for example compaction or
a hardpan within the soil
profile, require mechanical
action - " Difficult to achieve
mid-season, " acknowledges
Williams, " but it can be added
to the 'to do' list " - chemical
causes can be addressed
in-season.
Excess magnesium or sodium
causes individual clay particles
to clump together, blocking
the soil pores. To displace the
magnesium and restore water
penetration, calcium can be
added to the irrigation water.
" Gypsum is one option, and
inexpensive, but for most
cherry growers using drip
or micro-irrigation systems,
it comes with a major
disadvantage, " Williams
warns. " Even small traces of
bicarbonate in your irrigation
water will risk blocking your
system with lime deposits. "
To avoid this, Williams suggests
growers turn to solutions
containing calcium nitrate
OMEX®
has developed its own
SLYCE®
Ca8% -
calcium nitrate formulation -
Cell Power®
which also contains humic acid.
" Humic acid increases the
capacity of the soil's colloidal
structure, " explains Williams.
" By creating a more friable soil
structure, it increases waterholding
capacity and aeration.
" Short-chained sugars are
an additional component in
SLYCE®
. As well as maximizing
the soluble calcium, these can
help to stabilize aggregates in
surface soil and improve water
infiltration. "
Although SLYCE®
contains
calcium, growers shouldn't
regard it as a substitute for
foliar applications of calcium
used to improve cherry
flesh and skin quality, warns
Williams.
" To reduce or prevent pitting
and cracking, higher rates of
calcium applied directly to the
fruit are required, as in Cell
Power®
Calcium Gold. Its
formulation - which improves
the plant's ability to absorb
calcium - not only allows a
lower calcium loading but also
much later application dates. "
Cell Power®
and SLYCE®
are
registered trademarks of
OMEX® Agrifluids Inc. Learn
more at www.omexusa.com.
Cell Power®
The benefits of Cell Power®
The primary components of SLYCE®
SLYCE®
SLYCE®
Ca8% act to
greatly increase the soil available fertility, especially
when applied after granular fertilizers
(like DAP, MAP or KCl)
Increases the organic matter of soil and improves soil
structure, promotes the buffering power of soil, and
nutrient capacity.
Helps create a good living environment for microbial masses.
®
Helps regulate pH of soil and increase soil fertility.
Promotes the rapid development of chlorophyll,
sugars and amino acids in plants and aids in
photosynthesis.
Helps stimulate seed germination in short time,
greatly increasing the harvest and fruits quality.
Greatly increases the plant's ability to counter
stress and disease.
Cell Power® SLYCE® uses a unique chemistry to hold nitrogen in the amine form.
Call 559-661-6138 Visit www.omexusa.com
Email omexusa@omexcom
http://www.omexusa.com http://www.omexusa.com
June 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of June 2020
