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<pre>Thanks for all the feedback on spacing. It seems that you have all had
your various experiences and have finally settled for what you have
settled for. The debate could go on forever.
Thanks also for the stake and tie debate. While on the edge of this I
will refer back to it when I get closer to planting.

I now have some questions on irrigating which should spark a lively
debate.
Assumptions for the debate:
1. Tree spacing is 8m x 5m.
2. We are going to irrigate not dry farm.
3. Annual rainfall is 500mm
4. Reasonable soil with adequate drainage

1. I have read that a newly planted tree requires around 5 to 10 litres
of water a week.
a) Is that fed to the young tree on a daily basis or once a week or
other
b) Any special treatment at times like today where we are
experiencing near 40 degree heat which is likely to continue for
quite a few days.
c) Any special treatment on windy days.
By my calculations this equates to about 65 to 130 kilolitres of water
per ha.

2. I understand that an annual rainfall of 20 inches is equivalent to
500mm (approx).
This obviously does not fall regularly on a weekly basis (at least not
here in Adelaide).
How many mm of rain equates to 5 litres of irrigation. I think I read
that 100mm of rain equates to 1 mega litre per ha

3. It seems to me that there will be times when it is necessary to
monitor rainfall and to make a decision whether to "top up" with some
additional irrigation.
Who of the group does this and how do you do it. Do you use any special
equipment to monitor rainfall.
Does anyone use moisture probes to determine when to irrigate.
I s anyone remotely sensing moisture content and irrigating by remote
control.
I have got some information on sensors from a company called Sentek. It
seems to me to be a wise investment since yield is so closely linked to
moisture take up.

4. Is there any rule of thumb that can be applied to irrigation. eg In
year 1, 5 litres per week. Year 2, 10 litres per week etc.
Olives Australia seems to recommend weekly watering and increasing to
1000mm (10ml per ha for mature trees - 10 years old). Does this gel with
what you are doing. Any comments or experience would be greatly
appreciated.

5. Anyone got comments on method of irrigation. Type of piping, pumps
used, pressure. sprinklers vs drippers, Do you do your whole plot in one
go or do you cycle areas of the grove. Do you have a bore, comments on
bore types. Pump to a dam then irrigate vs direct from bore.

I'm sure that anyone new like myself will get great benefit from the
lively discussion to follow. Some of the older growers may wish that
they had done things differently. Some may have changed.
Thanks in advance.

Andrew & Val
</pre>
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<pre>In response to your enquiry re measurement of soil moisture levels for
olives.
We have just installed gypsum blocks and software from Measurement Australia
that record soil moisture levels by soil tension.
Once installed they take a couple of months to settle in and give accurate
readings but from then on a daily reading and transfer to a computer will
give an accurate assessment of the soil moisture levels and plant uptake
allowing you to irrigate as the plant demands.
The system is relatively inexpensive ( approx +ACQ-550 for software and +ACQ-12
- 14
for each gypsum block) we have 12 on our 20 acre grove but could install
more - depends on the variability of soil types on your property .
A rough guide to water requirements for a mature grove is approx 5
megalitres per hectare per annum - divide that by 20+ACU- for a young grove and
for older trees by the percentage of canopy cover over the floor of the
grove. (This also varies with soil type and evaporation rates in your area.)
From this you need to deduct the annual rainfall to gain your irrigation
requirements.
My suggestion is you contract the services of a good irrigation firm to
design a system and schedule your irrigation.

Helen Morgan
-----Original Message-----
From: Andrew Brown +ADw-drewbrow+AEA-senet.com.au+AD4-
To: OliveOil+AEA-onelist.com +ADw-OliveOil+AEA-onelist.com+AD4-
Date: Tuesday, February 01, 2000 3:28
Subject: +AFs-OliveOil+AF0- Watering


+AD4-From: Andrew Brown +ADw-drewbrow+AEA-senet.com.au+AD4-
+AD4-
+AD4-Thanks for all the feedback on spacing. It seems that you have all had
+AD4-your various experiences and have finally settled for what you have
+AD4-settled for. The debate could go on forever.
+AD4-Thanks also for the stake and tie debate. While on the edge of this I
+AD4-will refer back to it when I get closer to planting.
+AD4-
+AD4-I now have some questions on irrigating which should spark a lively
+AD4-debate.
+AD4-Assumptions for the debate:
+AD4-1. Tree spacing is 8m x 5m.
+AD4-2. We are going to irrigate not dry farm.
+AD4-3. Annual rainfall is 500mm
+AD4-4. Reasonable soil with adequate drainage
+AD4-
+AD4-1. I have read that a newly planted tree requires around 5 to 10 litres
+AD4-of water a week.
+AD4- a) Is that fed to the young tree on a daily basis or once a week or
+AD4-other
+AD4- b) Any special treatment at times like today where we are
+AD4-experiencing near 40 degree heat which is likely to continue for
+AD4-quite a few days.
+AD4- c) Any special treatment on windy days.
+AD4-By my calculations this equates to about 65 to 130 kilolitres of water
+AD4-per ha.
+AD4-
+AD4-2. I understand that an annual rainfall of 20 inches is equivalent to
+AD4-500mm (approx).
+AD4-This obviously does not fall regularly on a weekly basis (at least not
+AD4-here in Adelaide).
+AD4-How many mm of rain equates to 5 litres of irrigation. I think I read
+AD4-that 100mm of rain equates to 1 mega litre per ha
+AD4-
+AD4-3. It seems to me that there will be times when it is necessary to
+AD4-monitor rainfall and to make a decision whether to +ACI-top up+ACI- with
some
+AD4-additional irrigation.
+AD4-Who of the group does this and how do you do it. Do you use any special
+AD4-equipment to monitor rainfall.
+AD4-Does anyone use moisture probes to determine when to irrigate.
+AD4-I s anyone remotely sensing moisture content and irrigating by remote
+AD4-control.
+AD4-I have got some information on sensors from a company called Sentek. It
+AD4-seems to me to be a wise investment since yield is so closely linked to
+AD4-moisture take up.
+AD4-
+AD4-4. Is there any rule of thumb that can be applied to irrigation. eg In
+AD4-year 1, 5 litres per week. Year 2, 10 litres per week etc.
+AD4-Olives Australia seems to recommend weekly watering and increasing to
+AD4-1000mm (10ml per ha for mature trees - 10 years old). Does this gel with
+AD4-what you are doing. Any comments or experience would be greatly
+AD4-appreciated.
+AD4-
+AD4-5. Anyone got comments on method of irrigation. Type of piping, pumps
+AD4-used, pressure. sprinklers vs drippers, Do you do your whole plot in one
+AD4-go or do you cycle areas of the grove. Do you have a bore, comments on
+AD4-bore types. Pump to a dam then irrigate vs direct from bore.
+AD4-
+AD4-I'm sure that anyone new like myself will get great benefit from the
+AD4-lively discussion to follow. Some of the older growers may wish that
+AD4-they had done things differently. Some may have changed.
+AD4-Thanks in advance.
+AD4-
+AD4-Andrew +ACY- Val
+AD4-
+AD4-
+AD4-
+AD4-
+AD4---------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ----------------------------
+AD4-
+AD4-FREE ADVICE FROM REAL PEOPLE+ACE- Xpertsite has thousands of experts who
+AD4-are willing to answer your questions for FREE. Go to Xpertsite today
+AD4-and put your mind to rest.
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Here+ADw-/a+AD4-
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+AD4-
</pre>
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<pre>Hi Andrew & Val,

I am not an expert on Olives but I am learning fast!

Regarding watering olive trees, I can tell you what I did and it seems to
be working.

I was very disappointed when I was planning my grove. I could not find any
clear, easy to understand data on water requirements.

Many of those who advocate an annual requirement of water seem to ignore
the seasonal conditions. My grove is in the North East of Victoria and we
have hot dry summers and wet winters. I am told that adding water in winter
is important to enhance fruit set. In this district I am confident that
most winters will be wet enough without having to irrigate.

For me the need is to establish young trees and to nurse them through their
first few summers.

I designed my own system after failing to find an irrigation design person
that was prepared to consider my budgetry constraints.

I had a contractor divine and drill a bore. It is yielding only about 2000l
per hour. I believe that this will be adequate for about 2,000 trees. I
pump the water into a tank and then it gravitates to the grove. A dam or
tank gives greater flexability and it is not necessary to exactly match the
bore pump output to the capacity of the sprinklers. A tank gives me the
opportunity to ensure water cleanliness and quality as opposed to a dam.

For the main line I used Rural poly pipe and for the laterals I used LDPE.
The size required can easily be calculated by referring to friction loss
charts after taking into account the rate of flow required.

I like the Dan olive tree sprinklers that deliver 35l hr per tree. For my
young trees, I am applying about 150l per tree at intervals of 10 - 14
days. (My trees are well mulched with straw).

I water two or three rows at a time depending on the length of the rows.
Turning the valves on and off can be done by controllers and celenoid
valves alyhough at this stage I am opening the taps manually.

My trees are smiling at me and growing well so I suspect that they are
enjoying the conditions.

I am new to olives but I have had a lifetime in horticulture and cash
cropping and I have discarded all of the high tech moisture measuring
devices. Squeezing a handful of soil tells me all I need to know about soil
condition and moisture.

Regards

Sil.
</pre>
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