Influence of Bore Water Used to Irrigate Fruit in the Spring of 2007

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Influence of Bore Water Used to Irrigate in the Spring of 2007

Henry Schneider, DPI Cobram

DPI has surveyed 13 orchards and vineyards that were using bore water for early spring irrigations in August to December 2007. Each had two of their blocks monitored for soil salinity and leaf chlorides. In total fifty soil samples and twenty five leaf tests were analysed to determine the impact of bore water on salt accumulation.

The tests on soil were done both in December 2007 and again in February 2008.
The tissue samples were collected in late February to monitor the chloride levels accumulated during spring.

Summary of results:

Caption: Marginal leaf scorch on Williams pear from salinity

After the initial soil test results were analysed, all participants were notified immediately that soil salinity levels were elevated or already at high levels - with the exception of two samples which were using bore water at less than 500ppm Total Dissolved Salts (TDS)

Bore water used that was over 700ppm TDS showed high levels of soil salinity in both the December and late February soil samples. All these blocks also had high and sometimes toxic levels of leaf chlorides.

Bore water irrigated blocks which created high soil and tissue salinity were usually using water at over 700ppm and went as high as 1928ppm TDS.

All except two participants (whose bores tested less than 300ppm TDS) were recommended to either shandy their bore water or switch to channel water after the first test results were analysed in January 2008.

Elevated soil salinity was confirmed by high tissue test results.

All participants were individually informed of all test results and strategies for management discussed at length to ensure ongoing soil and irrigation management took into account the higher soil salt loads.

Recommendations on salinity mitigation included:
- Shandy bore water with channel water to 500ppm TDS or less if possible.
- Maintain higher soil moisture levels to reduce the salt concentrating within the wetted area irrigated.
- not been effective in displacing high sodium levels in the root zone.

The final stage of this project is to repeat the soil tests to ascertain the residual soil salinity and the amount of soil-stabilizing gypsum needed to overcome the higher levels of soil sodicity.

For more information on Bore Water please contact Henry Schneider at DPI Cobram on 58 710 615 and for updates on this project check the FruitCheque Website later this year.

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