Getting to the roots...California State University, Fresno

C A L I F O R N I A A G R I C U L T U R A L T E C H N O L O G Y I N S T I T U T E

In this issue...ARI proposals in ..................2

Turf tested for runoff ...........4

Eutypa incidence reduced .....5

The CIMIS connection .........6SUSUSUSU SUMM

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See Roots, Page 8

State offers ag energState offers ag energState offers ag energState offers ag energState offers ag energy rebate programy rebate programy rebate programy rebate programy rebate program

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See Rebate, Page 2

n an effort to reduce energyconsumption and mitigate theeffects of California’s looming

energy crisis, the California EnergyCommission is offering technicalservices and up to $75 million infinancial incentives to those in theagricultural industry who are willingto reduce electricity consumptionduring peak summer use hours.

Simply by installing new, energy-efficient equipment, retrofitting

existing systems such as irrigationpumps, or adopting other electricity-saving measures, farm producers canqualify for cash incentives that willcover portions of the costs of theirinvestments.

The incentive program is beingadministered jointly by California StateUniversity, Fresno and CaliforniaPolytechnic State University, San LuisObispo. The Center for Irrigation

Researchers use high-tech equipmentto observe root growth of peach trees

Miniature video and stillcameras have enabledmedical and other techni-cal professions to make

great strides in improving products andservices for the public over the years.

Now cameras are being tried inanother area – underground, in agricul-ture; and scientists hope that advancesbrought by their use will not onlyimprove food crops, but will reducewater and fertilizer use as well.

The specialized cameras in this caseare being used to measure the rate ofroot growth in young peach trees underdifferent irrigation and fertilizationregimes. The project has been sponsoredby the California State UniversityAgricultural Research Initiative (ARI)and is being conducted through a team

effort featuring researchersfrom the U.S. Departmentof Agriculture and Califor-nia State University, Fresno.

“Large quantities of water andnutrients (such as nitrogen) are used bygrowers for irrigating and fertilizingperennial tree crops grown on the eastside of the San Joaquin Valley,” notedlead researcher David Bryla of theUSDA’s Agricultural Research Servicebased in Fresno. Some scientists have

estimated that 20 to 50 percent ofapplications may be added unnecessarilydue to improper water managementpractices, he noted.

Key aspects of this project, beingconducted at a USDA research sitesoutheast of Fresno, are to try differentmanagement practices on young peachtrees to determine whether deficit appli-

Fresno state graduate student Elizabeth Dickson kneels by theunderground tubes through which a video camera takes imagesof peach tree roots using a minirhizotron camera system.Photo at left shows sample picture captured by the camera.

2 SUMMER 2001 UPDATE

Rebate: Incentives aimed to cut peak load energy usefrom Page 1

SARI funding draws high number of CSU proposals

cientists from CaliforniaState University, Fresnoand other California StateUniversity campuses have

submitted more than 90 new proposalsfor research through the AgriculturalResearch Initiative (ARI) for the 2001-2002 academic year.

The ARI was established in 1999by a California legislative mandateand provides $5 million annually tosupport applied research in agricultureand natural resources managementand technology transfer. ARI fundingis administered by the California Agri-cultural Technology Institute (CATI).

Project proposals for the comingyear range from reducing seleniumlevels in San Joaquin Valley soils tocontrolling the spread of Sudden OakDeath, a disease affecting Californiaoak trees.

More than 50 percent of thecoming year's ARI funding alreadyis committed to multi-year projectsfunded during the past two years,leaving approximately $2.5 millionavailable for new projects, reportedJoe Bezerra, CATI director of opera-tions and executive director of the ARI.

Grants are awarded annually

through a competitive proposal process.ARI funds require at least dollar-for-dollar cash and in-kind matching supportfrom external sources such as industryand state and federal agencies.

According to Bezerra, awardannouncements for this fiscal year will bemade in the first part of July followingapproval by the ARI governing board inlate June. Funding will be released oncethe state budget is approved by theLegislature and signed by the governor.

ARI projects are directed by scien-tists from CSU campuses includingCalifornia State University, Fresno;

California State Polytechnic Univer-sity, Pomona; California State Univer-sity, Chico; and California Polytech-nic State University, San Luis Obispo.Researchers from the University ofCalifornia, the U.S. Department ofAgriculture, and other agencies andinstitutions also participate.

Proposals up for peer review thisyear from Fresno State researchersalone seek more than $3.5 million inARI funding, Bezerra noted. Externalmatching funds for those proposalstotal more than $3.4 million. Thiscompetitive process ensures that thehighest-quality research will addresspriority issues of California's agricul-tural industry and the environment,he said.

ARI research is designed toimprove the economic efficiency,productivity, profitability, andsustainability of California agri-culture and its allied industries,and to enhance our environmentby improving management of ournatural resources.

For more information aboutARI research and proposal deadlines,contact CATI at (559) 278-2361.

ARI Research PrioritiesARI Research PrioritiesARI Research PrioritiesARI Research PrioritiesARI Research Priorities

• Agricultural business

• Biodiversity

• Biotechnology

• Food safety, nutrition, processing,and product development

• Natural resources

• Production cultural practices

• Public policy

• Water and irrigation technology

Technology (CIT) will oversee theprogram for Fresno State.

“The main objective is to get peopleto reduce peak load energy use. We willpay you to do that,” stated CIT directorDavid Zoldoske in outlining the serious-ness of lawmakers in establishing theprogram, which is also known as SB 5X.

Incentives will be available to wateragencies, food and fiber producers, dairyfarms, animal production facilities, foodprocessors, greenhouses, cold storagefacilities and other agricultural energyusers. Funding will be awarded to thosepurchasing or installing high-efficiency

agricultural equipment or facilities.Elegible projects include but are not

limited to the following:• Refrigeration and other cold storage

equipment, pumps and premiummotors, automated control systems

• Testing of agricultural water pumps;retrofitting or replacing pumps and

premium efficiency motors• Purchase/installation of advanced

metering and telemetry equipment• Retrofitting natural gas-powered

equipment to burn alternative fuelsSuccessful applicants for funding

must demonstrate that these newadditions reduce or shift electricityinflow and usage from peak times(between 12 noon and 6 p.m. Mondaythrough Friday from the months of Junethrough September).

For further information contactCIT toll free at (866) 297-3029 or visitthe energy reduction program websiteat www.energy.ca.gov/ag.

"The main objectiveis to get people toreduce peak loadenergy use. We willpay you to do that."

UPDATE SUMMER 2001 3

Center for Agricultural Business

Cotton ginners provide forum for safety advocate

Upcoming eventsJuly 20 – Central Coast Winegrape Pre-harvest Breakfast Briefing, at the PasoRobles Golf Club in Paso Robles, California.For more info call (559) 278-4405.

July 26 – Modules one and two of theCalifornia Agricultural Safety CertificateProgram: Introduction to Safety Laws andRegulations, from 8 a.m. to noon; Founda-tions for Occupational Health and Safety,from 1 to 5 p.m, in Exeter, California. Toregister, call (559) 278-4404.

August 23 – Modules three and four of theCalifornia Agricultural Safety CertificateProgram: Agricultural Workplace Injuryand Illness Prevention, from 8 a.m. tonoon; Effective Health and Safety Training,from 1 to 5 p.m, in Exeter, California. Toregister, call (559) 278-4404.

Ag safety alliance formed in Napahe importance of regionalagricultural safety networkswas reinforced again this spring

with the formation of an alliance in thewine country of northern California.

At a May gathering in the Napa/Sonoma area, viticulture industryrepresentatives joined safety educatorsfrom California State University,Fresno and the University of Californiain forming the Agricultural SafetyResource Alliance (ASRA).

The alliance will be modeled aftersafety coalitions already formed in theFresno and Salinas areas under theguidance of the Center for AgriculturalBusiness’s Agricultural Safety Program.Kimberly Naffziger, program develop-

ment specialist for CAB, oversees thesafety program and also is the director ofAgSafe, a private, non-profit corporationthat promotes safety in agriculture.

The alliance will begin by hostinglocal safety breakfast meetings like thosenow held in Fresno and Salinas. Thetarget audience for the meetings will besafety coordinators, managers andforemen responsible for worker safety.

Goals will be to inform and provideemployers with resources to help themdevelop and maintain effective safetyprograms through regional meetings.Sessions are open to representatives fromall agricultural industries.

For information on dates and locationof the first meetings, call (559) 278-4405.

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Promoting safety in the work-place was the topic of apresentation to a group ofmanagers of one of Califor-

nia’s largest agricultural industries.Kimberly Naffziger, program

development specialist for the Center forAgricultural Business (CAB), encour-aged members of the California CottonGinners Association to bolster theirexisting injury and illness preventionprograms by training and supportingcompany safety managers.

“Empowering your safety officerwith the knowledge and training neededis essential to a successful safety pro-gram,” Naffziger stated. “A well-developed and maintained program notonly protects workers, but also will boostthe company’s profitability,” she said.

“If you look at both the direct and

indirect costs of incidents and startadding up what one incident will costyour company, it is phenomenal,” sheexplained. In addition, with the risingcost of workers’ compensation, it is nowmore important than ever that compa-nies take a more aggressive approach tothe prevention of job-related injuries.

“We know that by reducing injuriesand keeping our experience modificationrate low we can have an impact on thecost of workers’ compensation and thusthe bottom line.”

A safety program can be success-fully applied by having a properlytrained and equipped safety man-ager on board. That training isavailable through the Califor-nia Agricultural SafetyCertificate Program.

The training programcurriculum was developedby faculty from California

State University, Fresno; CaliforniaPolytechnic State University, San LuisObispo; and the University of California,Davis, in cooperation with key represen-tatives of the agricultural industry. Thepurpose of the training is to equipcompany safety officers by providing theproper knowledge, training and resourcesneeded to do their job.

The course is organized into fivemodules that provide 20 hours of train-ing. Individual modules are presentedat San Joaquin Valley and coastallocations. Modules one through four

will be offered this summer in Exeter,California as well as other dates

in Salinas, California. See theupcoming events calendar forspecific dates and times.

4 SUMMER 2001 UPDATE

Center for Irrigation Technology

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Turf plots examinedfor pesticide runoff

Field researcher CindyGarretson (kneeling)of the Department ofPesticide Regulationprepares a turf plotfor sprinkling duringtests measuring diazinonrunoff. Assisting inproject operations(right) is CIT researchtechnician HerculesGonsalves. Bottom photo:One-liter bottles collectrunoff water at end ofeach turf plot.

Sloping lawns may be the sourceof diazinon found in surface water

hirty-two miniature turfplots are receiving specialirrigation treatments at theCenter for Irrigation

Technology (CIT) this summer as partof a diazinon runoff study being con-ducted for the California Departmentof Pesticide Regulation (DPR).

Diazinon is one of the most com-mon and widely-used insecticides in thestate, applied by farmers, large-scale turfmanagers, and homeowners to controlan assortment of insect pests rangingfrom spiders to mites. Diazinon can beapplied to trees, shrubs and lawns,depending on the pest control need.

In spite of close diazinon monitor-ing by environmental protection agen-cies, small amounts have been detectedin surface water in the Sacramento areaand other areas of the state, noted CindyGarretson, field researcher overseeingthe diazinon study for DPR researchscientist Frank Spurlock.

Some of the drinking water in

Sacramento is drawnfrom the AmericanRiver, and samplingis done frequently,Garretson said.

“They’re findinglevels of diazinon insurface water moreand more. So we’relooking to see if thereis a contribution fromsources other thanagriculture.”

CIT technical staff are managing theresearch area. It features 32 two-by-five-foot plots of Kentucky blue grass. Halfof the plots have been established onmounds with a five-percent slope. Theother half are on a slope of two and one-half percent.

Garretson’s trials consist of makingliquid and granular applications ofdiazinon to different plots, according tomanufacturer’s specifications. Immedi-ately following the applications, water is

applied to eachplot in amountsof one or two inches per hour, simulatingsprinkler use or rainfall.

A metal container around each plotdirects all water runoff to a funnel forcollection. Twenty liters of runoff will becollected from each plot and sequentiallyanalyzed for pesticide content.

“We want to see the concentrationsin runoff over time,” she said.

There are few specifics known abouthomeowner use of diazinon, Garretsonsaid. The DPR has assessed the landscapemaintenance industry in the Sacramentoarea and is aware of Diazinon use, but ithas been impossible to tell whether theadditional parts per billion found inwater sources such as the American Riverresult from over-application or simplywidespread use.

Drainage from lawns, followingsprinkling or rain, could cause waterflows into streets and gutters and otherwaterways, Garretson said.

Results of this study will hopefullybegin to provide some answers, sheadded. Data analysis from the summerstudy should be completed by the DPRlater this year.

ICIT education events scheduled

nformation and training inagricultural safety, pump testingand drip emitter basics will be

offered this summer by the Center forIrrigation Technology (CIT).

Events are free of charge and willbe held at Southern California EdisonAGTAC in Tulare.

Events are as follows:

July 24 – Agricultural Irrigation SafetyJuly 24 – Agricultural Irrigation SafetyJuly 24 – Agricultural Irrigation SafetyJuly 24 – Agricultural Irrigation SafetyJuly 24 – Agricultural Irrigation Safety willdetail the precautions all people involved inagricultural irrigation should be aware of.Topics will include basic water, electrical,and back safety.

August 2 – Pump Testing BasicsAugust 2 – Pump Testing BasicsAugust 2 – Pump Testing BasicsAugust 2 – Pump Testing BasicsAugust 2 – Pump Testing Basics is intended togive people with an interest in pumping plantefficiency an introduction into theory andprocedures involved in pump testing. Inaddition to an overview of pump testing, theworkshop will outline what is involved, skillsand aptitude required, and the opportunitiesfor further training and employment.

September 11 – Drip Emitter BasicsSeptember 11 – Drip Emitter BasicsSeptember 11 – Drip Emitter BasicsSeptember 11 – Drip Emitter BasicsSeptember 11 – Drip Emitter Basics will coverwhat type of emitter best suits your needs,how to evaluate emitter performance, quality,durability, and filtration requirements.

For workshop details, call CITeducation specialist Tim Jacobsen at(559) 278-5752.

UPDATE SUMMER 2001 5

Viticulture and Enology Research Center

Pruning methods effective in Eutypa controlesearch studies at acommercially-ownedvineyard in Californiaover the last several

they have had with Eutypa,” Gu said.“We’ve seen some really encouragingresults when using minimal and machinepruning methods.”

Minimal pruning eliminates dormantpruning and leaves no pruning wound tobe infected by Eutypa fungus, Gu said.Mechanical pruning allows fasterpruning at a very late date when suscep-tibility of pruning wounds to Eutypainfection is low. Comparable to late handpruning, this method of pruning alsoexposes the pruning wounds to Eutypainfection for the shortest time possible.

There is one “conventional” methodthat has been proven to control Eutypa,Gu noted. That involves late hand

pruning and painting every pruningwound with a fungicide every year.But that method is highly labor-intensive and expensive. Theminimal pruning approach can savemanagement costs, and mechanicalpruning with hand follow-up is notnecessarily higher in cost thanconventional hand pruning.

The Eutypa study was initiatedin 1992 in a commercial vineyardof Cabernet Sauvignon grapevinesgrafted onto Freedom rootstock.Training systems and pruningpractices under evaluation includebilateral cordon and Sylvoz training

with hand spur pruning, head trainingwith hand cane pruning, mechanicalpruning with and without hand follow-up, and minimal pruning.

No visual symptoms of Eutypadieback have been observed so far on theminimally-pruned vines, Gu reported.On the other hand, symptoms of thedisease were first noted on bilateralcordon and Sylvoz-trained vines withhand pruning in 1996. Since then,Eutypa has reached “strikingly high”incidence of 90 percent in those vines.

Gu acknowledged that minimalpruning is not a popular training method

Ryears have shown that pruningmethods can significantly aid inthe prevention of Eutypa dieback.

Eutypa dieback is a fungaldisease that attacks grapevinesall over the world, reported leadproject researcher Sanliang Gu,who holds the Ricchiuti Chairof Viticulture Research at FresnoState’s Viticulture and EnologyResearch Center. The disease isnot as “popular” in California as pestssuch as the glassy-winged sharp shooter,but it is just as deadly, Gu noted.

Once the fungus enters the vine,usually through pruning wounds, itcauses dieback of spurs and arms, and

Circled leaf shows first signs of Eutypa infection in grapevines.

eventually death of vines.The only positive aspect of the

disease is that it is slow in developing,Gu said: it can take three, four, five ormore years for symptoms to becomesevere. Since there is no known cure,the grower has plenty of time to decidehow to retrain or replace the vines.

“Hopefully, you will never see avineyard severely infected with Eutypa,”Gu noted, “because before it reaches thatstage the grower should have alreadypulled the vines out.”

The good news is that Eutypaappears to be preventable through use ofmodified pruning methods, Gu reportedin the results of a study of Eutypaincidence in the Lodi area of California.

“In that area, this is a very impor-tant project, because of the problems

"In that area this isa very importantproject because of theproblems they havehad with Eutypa."

See Eutypa, Page 7

Figure above shows Eutypa incidence in vineyard with various treatment methods.The front and back rows of bars indicate soil types: SJL = San Joaquin loam, alow-water-capacity soil; CSL = Columbia silt loam, a high-water-capacity soil.

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6 SUMMER 2001 UPDATE

CaliforniaIrrigationManagementInformationSystemOCT

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Chart shows ETo variation from normal over last three months.

FFFFFor more CIMIS infor more CIMIS infor more CIMIS infor more CIMIS infor more CIMIS informormormormormation...ation...ation...ation...ation...

Northern DistrictJamie Dubay(530) 529-7367pixley@water.ca.gov

Central DistrictMark Rivera(916) 227-7603mrivera@water.ca.gov

San Joaquin DistrictDavid Scruggs(559) 230-3322kframe@water.ca.gov

Southern DistrictSergio Fierro(818) 543-4652sergiof@water.ca.gov

CIMIS information is published quarterly in the CATIUpdate newsletter. Articles are provided by the CaliforniaDepartment of Water Resources, CIMIS program staff.

For more information about CIMIS or its programs,contact any of the following representatives at these offices:

lf you are unable to reach a CIMIS representative nearyou, call the CIMIS Helpline at 1-800-922-4647.

Weekly ETo Comparisons for FresnoWeekly ETo Comparisons for FresnoWeekly ETo Comparisons for FresnoWeekly ETo Comparisons for FresnoWeekly ETo Comparisons for FresnoFresno: 3/01/00– 5/31/01Fresno: 3/01/00– 5/31/01Fresno: 3/01/00– 5/31/01Fresno: 3/01/00– 5/31/01Fresno: 3/01/00– 5/31/01

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CIMIS Station #80CIMIS Station #80CIMIS Station #80CIMIS Station #80CIMIS Station #80Fresno StateFresno StateFresno StateFresno StateFresno State

Site standards ensure accuracy of station data

Visit the CIMIS home page at thefollowing address:

wwwdpla.water.ca.gov/cimis.html

As many of you know, about 65percent of the weather stations on theCIMIS network are owned by localagencies. CIMIS continues to receiverequests from local agencies seeking tobuy, install, and connect weather stationsto the network.

Because a weather station site canaffect the accuracy of ETo data, theDepartment of Water Resources hasprepared, with the help of the University

decreased humidity, which in turnincrease the ETo value.

A CIMIS weather station should belocated within the area that the station ismeant to represent. The overridingfactor in locating any CIMIS weatherstation is that the station location shouldbe representative of the largest possiblesurrounding area. This ensures the mostefficient use of weather stations forsupplying accurate ETo information. Thegrass at the site should be well main-tained, properly irrigated and fertilized,and mowed or grazed frequently tomaintain a height between 4 to 6 inches.

For additional information on stationsiting, please visit the CIMIS website atwwwdpla.water.ca.gov/cimis.html, orcall the local Department of WaterResources’ CIMIS representative.

Summary of regional, local, and immediate station surrounding siting criteriaSummary of regional, local, and immediate station surrounding siting criteriaSummary of regional, local, and immediate station surrounding siting criteriaSummary of regional, local, and immediate station surrounding siting criteriaSummary of regional, local, and immediate station surrounding siting criteria

Regional and Local Criteria:• Site the station within the region it is meant to represent.• Site the station away from topographic depression and high points.• Maintain the same land use around the site.

Immediate Surrounding Criteria:• Site the station away from wind obstructions.• Place the station at a distance from areas where there are frequent land use changes.• Site the station away from abrupt vegetation changes.• Avoid roads within 100 yards of the site.• Small rivers should be no closer than 100 yds. and large water bodies no closer than 1,000 yds.

of California, guidelines to assist localagencies find and judge prospective sitesfor CIMIS weather stations.

Buildings or trees close to a weatherstation can affect wind speed data, whichin turn affects the estimated ETo. Theabsence of healthy green grass around aweather station affects humidity, whichwill adversely affect ETo. Bare soilinstead of grass around the station canresult in increased temperature and

UPDATE SUMMER 2001 7

Bell Pepper report offers details onstudy of irrigation with air injection

from Page 5

Eutypa: Minimalpruning may notattract growers

State ZipCity

Name

Company

Mailing Address

(These publications may be viewed in their entirety on CATI's World Wide Web pages,located at cati.csufresno.edu. Single copies are also available by mail at no charge)

Publications availableUpdate:

Summer 2001

Ordering Information:Check the publication(s) desiredand mail or fax form to:

CATICalifornia State University, Fresno2910 E. Barstow Ave. M/S OF115Fresno, CA 93740-8009Fax: (559) 278-4849

r A Pilot Study on the Impact of Air Injected into Water Delivered ThroughSubsurface Drip Irrigation Tape on the Growth and Yield of Bell Peppers,by Dave Goorahoo, Genett Carstensen, and Angelo Mazzei. Pub. #010201.

A

r Computer Technology Use by California Agricultural Teachers,by Michael Spiess. Pub. #010501.

report on bell pepper growthand yield trials using subsur-face irrigation with injectedair has been completed by

research scientist Dave Goorahoo of theCenter for Irrigation Technology (CIT)and is now available for viewing orcopying from the California AgriculturalTechnology Institute (CATI) website.

From the date of initial seedlingplanting to final harvest, the report offersdocumentation and analysis of the effectsof aerated water on the overall yield ofbell pepper plants. Initial trials showedthat pepper plants irrigated with air-

injected water had significantly higheryields than plants irrigated without theaerated water.

The pepper project was completedwith support from the Mazzei InjectorCorp., the Toro Ag Co., and CATI.

The report is entitled “A Pilot Studyon the Impact of Air Injected into WaterDelivered Through Subsurface DripIrrigation Tape on the Growth and Yieldof Bell Peppers.” It is available in port-able document format (pdf) on the CATIwebsite, located at cati.csufresno.edu.

Single print copies also may berequested using the order form below.

TResults available in state ag teacher survey

echnology is a vital element ineducating today’s youth, but howavailable is it to our teachers?

Michael Spiess, general manager ofthe Agricultural Technology InformationNetwork (ATI-Net) and lecturer forFresno State’s Plant Science Department,has focused research efforts to try toanswer this question in the form of asurvey conducted of secondary agricul-tural teachers all over California.

Results of the survey offer informa-

tion regarding not only availabilityof technology for students, but alsoresources for teachers.

The survey report is entitled,“Computer Technology Use by CaliforniaAgricultural Teachers.” It has beenplaced in portable document format(pdf) and may be viewed or printed fromthe California Agricultural TechnologyInstitute (CATI) website, located atcati.csufresno.edu. Print copies also maybe ordered using the form below.

CATI on the Web!For timely information about CATI,its research projects or centers, or toview text of research publications, visitus at cati.csufresno.edu.....

Center for Agricultural Business (CAB) –cati.csufresno.edu/cab

Center for Food Science and NutritionResearch (CFSNR) – cati.csufresno.edu/cfsnr

Center for Irrigation Technology (CIT) –cati.csufresno.edu/cit

Viticulture and Enology Research Center(VERC) – cati.csufresno.edu/verc

Agricultural Technology InformationNetwork (ATI-Net) – cati.csufresno.edu/atinet

for vineyard managers, nor ismechanical pruning. However, asa researcher, Gu has certain goalsin mind.

“First, we are trying to find away to control Eutypa. Then we cango back and determine how well themethods serve growers,” he said.

Original funding for this projectwas provided by the Lodi-Woodbridge Winegrape Commission,Gu said. Additional funding has beenprovided by the California StateUniversity Agricultural ResearchInitiative (ARI) and the AmericanVineyard Foundation. Furtherfunding is anticipated in order tocontinue the work. The study wasconducted at Vino Farms Inc.

Gu is continuing to releaseresults through various means. Adetailed report will soon be availablethrough the California AgriculturalTechnology Institute (CATI), whichoversees ARI research.

8 SUMMER 2001 UPDATE

CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURALTECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE

California State University, Fresno2910 E. Barstow Ave. M/S OF115Fresno, California 93740-8009

Update is published quarterly by the California Agricultural Technology Institute

College of AgriculturalSciences and Technology

California State University, FresnoSummer 2001

CATI Publication #010701

Voice number: (559) 278-2361Fax number: (559) 278-4849

Director of Operations: Joe BezerraPublications Editor: Steve OlsonEditorial Assistant: Mike Rivera

Non Profit OrganzationU.S. PostagePAIDFresno , CAPermit No. 262

Address Service Requested

Roots: Three irrigation treatments to be applied

In the event of incorrect address information or extra copies to your workplace, please return thisaddress label by mail or fax with your requested changes. CATI fax number is (559) 278-4849.

cations of water and nitrogen fertilizerstimulate more active root growth, thusmaking the trees more efficient andproductive in the long run.

“Better water management practicesdeveloped for peach will reduce waterand nutrient losses on the farm, whileincreasing the efficiency in which waterand nutrients are acquired by plants,thereby increasing yields per dollarinvested,” Bryla said.

Irrigation treatments for the projectcomprise three methods: microsprayer,subsurface drip and conventional furrow.Each method also features treatmentsirrigated to 70 and150 percent ofnormal, based onrelative evapotrans-piration data.

Nitrogenfertilizer also will beadded at differentlevels during the firstthree years of treegrowth, Bryla said.

To measure soilmoisture content inrelation to tree growth, special moisturesensing probes have been inserted ingroups around selected trees at depths of10, 25, 50 and 100 centimeters. Also

installed along with the moisture probeswill be soil solution samplers that willtrack movement and amounts of nutrientssuch as nitrogen and potassium.

To track root growth, researchershave installed clear plastic observationtubes one meter deep into the groundaround the selected trees. Digital videocameras in the tubes will monitor rootgrowth and send the information foranalysis to an interactive softwareprogram developed by Duke University.

The study is in its third leaf andproduced its first crop in May.

“Yields will be expressed per unitof water and nutrients applied,” Bryla

said. "We will con-tinue to measure yieldand fruit quality forat least another threeyears." Informationgleaned from the studywill be used to advisepeach and other stonefruit growers of theadvantages and dis-advantages of usingvarious types of

microirrigation systems and managementpractices for reducing production costs

from Page 1

Illustration shows minirhizotron installation forthree different peach tree irrigation treatments

and increasing harvestable yields duringearly stages of tree development, Brylasaid. Specific recommendations onplacement of irrigation systems, irriga-tion scheduling, and water and nutrientapplications rates also will be possible.

For more information on this project,Bryla may be contacted through theARS Water Management ResearchLaboratory in Fresno at (559) 453-3106or at bryla@spininternet.com.

Microjet sprayer used for above-groundirrigation treatment.