Demonstration & Evaluation of an Integrated Organic Mulching & Drip Irrigation system for Orchard Crops

The purpose of this project is to develop and distribute accurate information about the integrated straw mulching and drip irrigation production system in various fruit production areas in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest, and to increase the growers awareness of the economic, social, and environmental benefits with the integrated new system, and thus encouraging growers to use straw mulching and drip irrigation as an integrated alternative production system.Oregon State University will demonstrate and evaluate the effects of organic mulching and drip irrigation as an integrated system on sweet cherry with the goal of increasing soil quality and productivity, reducing orchard water consumption, increasing grower profitability, and improving environmental quality. A field experiment will be conducted on Mel Omegs orchard at The Dalles, Oregon from 2006 through 2008. Two ground and water management systems: straw mulching and drip irrigation system, and no ground cover (but with herbicide applications) and micro sprinkler irrigation system will be compared under sweet cherry cultivar of Bing on Gisela 6 rootstock. Soil moisture, nutrient contents, and physical and biological properties; leaf nutrient concentrations; tree vigor, fruit yield, size, firmness, color, and storability, and water consumption of sweet cherry, and costs and economic returns will be determined. The outcomes of this project are that the integrated straw mulching and drip irrigation production system will become a viable replacement to our current no ground cover and sprinkler irrigation production system, and will be widely adopted by the tree fruit growers in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest.