Saline Water and Soil in Pistachio Cultivation
A series of research projects is currently underway in the U.S. state of California to investigate the impact of soil and water salinity, as well as boron levels, on pistachio cultivation. The experts involved in this initiative maintain that salinity is unavoidable and must be managed. Unlike previous studies—which relied on transporting soil samples to a laboratory—this research utilizes a network of sensors installed directly in the soil to measure salinity and ion concentrations, with the data being monitored and viewed in real time.
This project pursued two objectives: first, to determine the long-term effects of irrigation water—specifically water containing sodium, chlorine, and boron—on the physiology, growth, yield, and quality of pistachio crops; and second, to observe the changes that occur when pistachio trees are irrigated with non-saline water (~1.0 dS/m). The results are presented for three soil depths: 30, 60, and 90 centimeters. Preliminary findings indicate the successful implementation of real-time data acquisition. In the next phase, the project aims to investigate the ameliorative effects of various soil amendments designed to mitigate salinity in pistachio orchards. This represents an initial step toward precision agriculture. A sample of the results is provided above.
Source of the content:
http://www.wcngg.com/2020/06/24/a-look-at-salinity-research-in-pistachio
