RESEARCH IRRIGATING FOR
the University of Georgia Griffin campus, and his research team are working to ensure that success. Beginning in 2014, Chavez, along with then-graduate student Bruno Casamali, began working on improving irrigation and fertilization management practices for young peach trees in the southeastern United States after finding there was no up-to-date information available. Traditionally, irrigation management relied solely on rainfall, which is not always predictable.
“People always think the Southeast gets a lot of rain, but the rain we do get is very variable,” said Chavez. “Sometimes you have a lot of rain and other times you go for long periods without it.”
Peach trees are fast growing, and without rain they will be under stress, which can affect growth, fruit production and fruit quality. Chavez and his team began looking into irrigation versus the industry standard of no irrigation from the time of orchard establishment. The researchers studied two main types of irrigation delivery systems used in fruit production — microsprinklers and drip irrigation. Using a supplementary irrigation system from the time of establishment proved beneficial for tree growth, yield and plant-nutrient uptake compared with trees grown without supplemental irrigation.
“Plants are like babies — early growth and care serves them for many years to come,” said Chavez. “We looked at the difference it makes for starting with a new method compared to traditional methods. We found good results in production and yield, plant growth parameters and nutritional uptake. There are myriad differences across parameters between the two.”
28 Irrigation TODAY | Summer 2021
Perfect Peaches W
Irrigation benefits both newly planted and established peach trees in University of Georgia study.
By Ashley N. Biles
hile peach orchards are a common sight throughout middle and south Georgia — helping the Peach State live up to its name — peach producers need more than just the title to ensure that both long-established groves and newly planted fields are successful.
Dario Chavez, PhD, associate professor of horticulture on
Dario Chavez shows the drip irrigation system in the peach orchard of the Dempsey Research Farm used to study irrigation and fertilization management for young
peach trees. Photo credit Ashley N. Biles
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