Scanning report Water and Nutrients pcfruit year 2

Research has shown that irrigation in ‘Conference’ pears increases fruit size resulting in a higher yield and higher economic turnover. To assist pear growers in optimizing their yields the Soil Service of Belgium and pcfruit established an irrigation and fertigation service system PWARO that gives orchard specific advice based on soil sample analysis, leaf mineral analysis, fruit set and a soil water balance model. However, variations exist in orchards and to better take these variations into account in the PWARO advise satellite image analysis is offered to pear growers. The water status can be derived from the satellite images and there is a strong relation between water status and fruit size. This analysis will allow to locate the drought sensitive zones in the orchard, optimize water use and better assess for instance the effect root pruning. In addition, the PWARO service is extending to sweet cherry growers in 2017.

Trials in soil-grown strawberry are ongoing at pcfruit to determine the irrigation and nitrogen thresholds as well as the optimal application strategies to minimize inputs and drainage losses and maximize fruit quality. Concurrently, the KNS fertilization system adapted to the Flemish growth conditions is under testing in strawberry. Using sensors irrigation thresholds for several berries growing in substrate are being investigated, while optimization of raspberry fertilization is ongoing, too.

Documents

Scanning report pcfruit Year 2 Water and Nutrients WP5 () Scanning report

Details

Activity type

Publication of scanning report

Activity work package

Secure sustainable fruit production

Activity number

PCFRUIT-WP5-A43

Activity contact

Activity contact:
Serge Remy
pcfruit,
Fruittuinweg 1
3800 Sint-Truiden, Belgium
Tel.: +32 (0)11 69 71 50
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.pcfruit.be

Activity partner

PCFRUIT

Activity country

Belgium

Last edit

19-07-2019