Water scarcity poses a significant threat to the sustainability and profitability of fruit production, particularly in water-intensive crops like sweet cherries. This research evaluated the effectiveness of a precision irrigation management strategy, integrating soil moisture sensors and evapotranspiration (Etc) data, on water conservation, tree physiology, and fruit quality in a mature “Bing” cherry (Prunus avium L.) orchard in a semi-arid region. Over two consecutive growing seasons, a randomized block design was implemented, comparing a sensor-based precision irrigation (PI) treatment against the orchard’s conventional irrigation (CI) practice, which followed a fixed calendar-based schedule. The PI treatment applied water only when soil moisture in the root zone (0-60 cm depth) fell below 65% of field capacity, with volumes adjusted weekly using local ETc and crop coefficient (Kc) values. Results demonstrated that the precision irrigation system achieved a 22.3% average reduction in seasonal irrigation water use compared to conventional practice, without inducing significant water stress. Midday stem water potential measurements confirmed similar plant water status between treatments. Importantly, fruit yield, average fruit size, and soluble solids content were not statistically compromised. Furthermore, the PI trees exhibited a marginal, though not significant, increase in fruit firmness. The discussion highlights that the water savings were primarily attributed to the elimination of unnecessary irrigation events during periods of low evaporative demand or following rainfall. These findings underscore the potential of sensor-based precision irrigation as a critical tool for sustainable agriculture in cherry orchards. By maintaining productivity and fruit quality while substantially reducing water inputs, this approach offers a viable pathway for enhancing water conservation and ensuring the long-term economic and environmental resilience of cherry production systems.

cherry, orchards, irrigation management, sustainable agriculture, precision farming

agronomy

Presentation: poster