Advancing Water Use Efficiency in Vineyards with Sub-surface Micro-irrigation Techniques

摘要

This poster presentation describes methods employed to increase water use efficiency in grapevines via micro-irrigation delivered sub-surface at depths ranging from 30 - 120 cm. The irrigation delivery system uses 1.27 cm (id) diameter PVC tubes inserted vertically into pre-drilled holes placed 45 cm either side of the vine trunk and in line with the dripline. A barbed connector with attached 15 cm length of 0.63 cm diameter tubing attached to a fixed rate drip emitter (2 L/hr) beneath a center drilled PVC cap secures the system in place and prevents exposure of the dripper to either atmosphere or soil. Plant root growth in response to wetting zone is quantified by periodic digital photography via a clear hard acrylic mini-rhizotron and camera system controlled by a laptop computer. Plant water stress is monitored by pressure bomb and auto-porometer, and compared to digital imagery obtained from a thermal sensing camera mounted on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). While this technique is currentlybeing used only for research to quantify physiological responses of the vine and its root system, its potential use in mature vineyards may permit more water efficient irrigation while reducing weeds and disease issues, as well as avoiding root pruning during installation and lessening problems from burrowing rodents impacting buried lines or clogging of emitters from contact with the soil. Published results are anticipated by 2017.