Efficiency of irrigation practices for table grapes in the Hex River Valley

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dc.contributor.advisorHoffman, J. E.
dc.contributor.advisorFey, M. V.
dc.contributor.authorEustice, Tarrynen_ZA
dc.contributor.otherUniversity of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Agrisciences. Dept. of Soil Science.
dc.date.accessioned2008-06-12T12:49:01Zen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2010-06-01T09:06:00Z
dc.date.available2008-06-12T12:49:01Zen_ZA
dc.date.available2010-06-01T09:06:00Z
dc.date.issued2008-03en_ZA
dc.descriptionThesis (MScAgric (Soil Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2008.
dc.description.abstractIn order to produce table grapes of export quality economically, irrigation must be practised conservatively without adversely affecting the crop. To use water as conservatively as possible effective irrigation scheduling practices must be applied. The highest water use efficiency (WUE) is only possible if irrigation scheduling practices lower the amount of water applied, while at the same time they increase the yield. The first aim of this project is to investigate whether current irrigation practices make efficient use of water by comparing irrigation requirements determined using theoretical models with actual irrigation applied for two seasons (2005/6 and 2006/7). Secondly, the effect of cumulative irrigation on the chemical status of soil in 16 blocks was investigated to establish whether nutrient leaching as a result of differential water use may have had an influence on yield. Six blocks (three dripper and three microsprinkler blocks) were selected and irrigation requirements were determined using evaporation pan calculations, SAPWAT and Vinet and compared with actual irrigation applications. Furthermore, a yield-irrigation index (kg/m3) and an income-irrigation index (R/m3) were determined for each of the six blocks and compared. To investigate the effect of cumulative water use on the chemical status of the soils of 16 blocks, soil samples were taken and analysed for pH (1M KCl), EC (1:5); soluble cations and anions (Ca, Mg, Na, K, SO4, NO3, and Cl), ammonium acetate extractable cations (Ca, Mg, Na and K) and micro elements (Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu and B). The irrigation requirements predicted by the different irrigation scheduling methods are variable. For Vinet, the irrigation requirement determined for microsprinkler irrigation is much higher than that determined using the evaporation pan or SAPWAT approaches. Comparison of the irrigation applied to each of these blocks does not clarify whether any irrigation scheduling takes place. Results showed a relationship between the yield-irrigation index and income-irrigation index. It has not however been verified whether this relationship is statistically significant.en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/3090
dc.language.isoenen_ZA
dc.publisherStellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
dc.rights.holderUniversity of Stellenbosch
dc.subjectIrrigation efficiencyen_ZA
dc.subjectLeachingen_ZA
dc.subjectTable grapesen_ZA
dc.subjectIrrigation schedulingen_ZA
dc.subjectDissertations -- Soil scienceen
dc.subjectTheses -- Soil scienceen
dc.titleEfficiency of irrigation practices for table grapes in the Hex River Valleyen_ZA
dc.typeThesisen_ZA
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