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<pre>back to my pet foibles,

The recent posting on irrigation in Perrugia by J Archer of Olives Aust
(nothing personal) only illustrates the degree to which a little
information can be extrapolated to a larger degree. To my mind to have a
measured quantity of water set against a general quantity of environment
( medium soils, dry summer) makes the data at least irrelevant. As for a
control?


There have been many studies on plant vigour eg
http://www.goodfruit.com/Sept-99/special8.html
where they conclude that "In summary then, the level of water stress
experienced by individual trees over the course of the growing season
may be quite different, even when the trees are under the same
irrigation conditions."

People can't seem to connect that, on its own, more water does not
necessarily equate to better production. Irrigation is not a panacea
for low production or quality. Water places a significant, but not
exclusive role to plant vigour. Why soil biology or soil science is
never mentioned remains a mystery to me.

Roger Farquhar

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