IN YOUR ORCHARD
Planting cover crops can help increase water infiltration and avoid evaporation and other water losses associated with bare soils. Credit: Almond Board of California’s Cover Crop Guide pg. 12
lack of irrigation or about cover crops competing for water, the Almond Board’s Cover Crop Best Management Practices Guidebook states: “Cover crops often do not require irrigation after establishment, though they consume water from winter precipitation. Overall, their impact on soil moisture can be negligible because bare soil also consumes water through evaporation and runoff.”³ PAm. is also funding additional research at UC Davis measuring and comparing water use in orchards with and without cover crops to further understand these dynamics. Rainfall, irrigation methods and water access will vary across region; for some farmers, relying on early fall rains is not always possible. Seeds are dependent on moisture in the top few inches of soil to germinate and irrigation may be needed to achieve a successful stand. Low moisture results in low germination, reducing fall growth and ultimately reducing the benefits from the cover crop. For orchards in more arid climates, there are several other options. If you have irrigation, you might consider applying irrigation water to dry soil (until plant emergence) to protect the time and effort you have already invested into your cover crop. 4 Another management alternative is to postpone planting, “seeding when there is available water is most important, and later seeding in late winter or early spring as day length increases may still produce a cover crop that can meet your goals.”³ Water use and
References: 1. Gomes A, DeVincentis A, Solis S, Zaccaria D, Munk D, Bali K, Shrestha A, Gould K, Mitchell J. 2023. Long-term reduced tillage and winter cover crops can improve soil quality without depleting moisture. Calif Agr 77(1):4-14. https.//doi.org/10.3733/ca.2023a0001. 2. Wauters, Vivian M., et al. ”Developing Cover Crop Systems for California Almonds: Current Knowledge and Uncertainties.” Journal of Soil and Water Conservation , 2023, pp. 78(1)5A-11A, https://doi.org/10.2489/ jswc.2023.1109A. specific to your farm and can help you decide what mixes and best management practices are most appropriate for your operation and water use goals. management decisions, such as when and what to plant, will vary from farm to farm. Of course, there is no one-size-fits-all practice for farming. Factors such as your region’s annual rainfall, soil conditions, orchard management practices, etc. will determine what works best for your orchard. Non-irrigated winter cover crops provide a long list of positive benefits while using minimal water to produce a worthwhile return on investment. PAm.’s Seeds for Bees ™ team offers technical advice
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ALMOND FACTS
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