The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California

Sprinkler Irrigation

Orchard Culture With Sprinkler Irrigation

The advent of sprinkler irrigation has meant new practices and new success in the production of fruit crops.

Mr. Lewis, in his Bureau of Reclamation report of 1917 has this to say:
"The principal advantage of the sprinkler method over the border method in irrigating ... is the elimination of the plow sole which retards penetration of moisture. The plow sole is caused by continuous disking required with the border method of irrigation. Other advantages are increased production, better control of the amount of water applied, more uniform distribution of water, less danger of water logging the land. Land level ling is not required . . . and water can be uniformly applied to level and rolling lands alike. This is important on these orchards which consist of rolling land with steep slopes and sandy soils. While using the border method of irrigation, one orchard had a water table at 2.5 feet below the ground surface. After the sprinklers had been in operation for about 13 months, the water table dropped to 9 feet. The orchard also showed an increased yield."

"Other growers showed that by the use of sprinklers the cutting of feeder roots by frequent disking could be eliminated. Grass and weeds are mowed where orchards are irrigated by sprinklers and no ditching is required. There is also a downward movement of salts and the soil is not compacted at the surface. A further advantage is that the fruit is not knocked off and the tree limbs broken by disking."

Dr. Jack Batjer and Mr. Fred Overly in their notes on the F.xtension Service Soils School regarding deficiency disease of apple trees, make this recommendation:
"One means of overcoming deficiency diseases is to encourage surface feeding of tree roots.
1 — Avoid tillage
2 — Use sprinkler irrigation
3 — Use a surface mulch of litter and cover crop."

Cover Crops Without Tillage

It is in the possibility of growing a permanent cover crop without tillage, that sprinkler irrigation makes the greatest contribution. The only operation necessary is mowing or dragging once or twice a year. While cover crops may be mowed or dragged down with a log, the most effective method of incorporating the organic matter, furnished by the cover crop, with the soil, is to use a chopper. (A machine similar to the chopper used to reduce asparagus tops is ideal.)

There are two combinations of grasses that have proven very satisfactory in sprinkler irrigated orchards One is a mixture of dwarf sweet clover and perennial rye grass; the other a mixture of Ladino clover, white Dutch clover and perennial rye grass.