Water use and fertigation trial

May 2013 | DAFWA | Future Orchards® trial report, Western Australia

This Western Australian Future Orchards® trial examines the linked management of irrigation water and fertigation. In modern high-density orchards, water delivery and soluble nutrient application are closely connected, making irrigation scheduling an important part of both tree water status and nutrient-use efficiency.

The report provides a local demonstration of how growers can assess water use and fertigation under orchard conditions rather than relying only on nominal irrigation-system output. The practical objective is to better match inputs to crop demand and reduce the risk of both under-supply and losses below the active root zone.

For orchard managers, the trial reinforces the value of measuring applied water, understanding soil and root-zone behaviour, and timing fertigation to periods when the tree can use the nutrients supplied. These principles support fruit quality, tree performance and more efficient use of water and fertiliser.