Effect of Irrigation and Berm on Growth of Peach Trees during Establishment
Long-term success in peach production requires the best possible site, but the ideal site is difficult to find. Risk of crop loss to spring freeze dictates that trees be on high ground. As a result, the best site available may have less than optimum soil. Effects of irrigation on peach tree growth are well documented. Raised beds have been used in other crops to insure adequate water drainage away from roots of crop plants. Results from larger beds or berms in combination with irrigation on peaches have been reported in Ohio, but little information is available for the southeast production region. In this study, berms on a Teller Fine Sandy Loam soil were constructed with a road grader in Oct. 1993. The berms were 55.8 cm high, 61 cm wide at the top, and sloped ≈30° to a base width of 4.3 m. `Flameprince'/Lovell trees were planted in Mar. 1994, 6.1 m between rows and 5.5 m between trees in rows. The experiment was a split-plot design with four replications and three trees per treatment replication. Treatments consisted of no irrigation, 40% or 80% pan evaporation (PE) replacement in combination with berm or flat planting surface. Irrigation was supplied by means of emitters which applied 3.7 L per hour. Two emitters per tree were located in the row 45.7 cm either side of the tree trunk. During the first 4 years there was no significant difference between 40% and 80% PE irrigation treatments. Likewise, no significant interactions occurred. Tree trunk caliper, canopy area, and height were greater in irrigated plots and the same or greater from trees in flat plots in all cases.