Blueberry Planting And Its Irrigation And Fertilization Techniques: Irrigation Skills

Huazui Irrigation Knowledge Popularization Xiamen Huazui Irrigation Equipment Technology Co., Ltd. was founded in 2006, focusing on the research, development and production of agricultural water-saving irrigation products, including pressure-compensated drip irrigation pipes/tapes, pressure-compensated drip emitters, solenoid valves/pressure reducing valves, LDPE pipes and fittings, micro-sprinklers and atomizing sprinklers, air valves, and accessories for drip irrigation tapes. Its products are exported to more than 70 countries overseas. Water is the source of life. For blueberry planting, reasonable irrigation is a key link to ensure the healthy growth of blueberry plants and improve the yield and quality of fruits. This part will deeply explore the key technical points such as the composition of the blueberry irrigation system, the number of irrigation times, and the control of irrigation water volume. 1. System Composition: The blueberry drip irrigation system mainly consists of four parts: water source, head control unit, water conveyance pipeline system, and drip emitters. The water source can be river water, well water, reservoir water, etc., but it needs to undergo water quality treatment to remove harmful substances such as impurities, silt, and salts to ensure the quality of irrigation water.

The head control unit is the control center of the entire drip irrigation system, including equipment such as water pumps, filters, fertilization devices, pressure gauges, and water meters. The water pump is used to provide the pressure required for irrigation and transport water from the water source to the drip irrigation system; the filter is used to filter impurities in the water to prevent clogging of the drip emitters; the fertilization device can realize the integration of water and fertilizer, dissolve fertilizers in the irrigation water, and apply them into the soil together with the water to improve the utilization rate of fertilizers; the pressure gauge and water meter are used to monitor the system pressure and water volume so that the irrigation parameters can be adjusted in a timely manner. The water conveyance pipeline system includes main pipes, branch pipes, and capillary pipes. The main pipes usually adopt pipes with larger diameters and are responsible for transporting water from the head control unit to the fields; the branch pipes divert the water in the main pipes to various planting areas; the capillary pipes are directly laid near the plants and transport water to the roots of each blueberry plant. The drip emitter is the terminal equipment of the drip irrigation system, and its function is to drip water slowly and evenly into the soil, reducing water evaporation and leakage and improving the water use efficiency. 2. Underground Water Conveyance Pipeline Installation: The reasonable installation of the underground water conveyance pipeline is crucial for the efficient operation of the drip irrigation system. The main pipes are generally laid along the long side of the blueberry planting field at a certain depth underground, usually 70 - 100 centimeters (the basic dimension is related to the local frozen soil depth), to reduce the impact of ground traffic and other factors on the pipeline and ensure the stability of the pipeline. The branch pipes are laid perpendicular to the main pipes at a depth of about 50 - 60 centimeters. The spacing of the branch pipes is determined according to the row spacing of blueberry planting and irrigation requirements, generally 3 - 6 meters. When laying the capillary pipes on both sides of the plants, if ordinary drip emitters are used, the length should not be too long, generally not exceeding 50 meters, to ensure the uniformity of water output of the drip emitters. For the specific laying length of the capillary pipes when using pressure-compensated drip emitters, it can be calculated by visiting the website: http://irripro.com.cn/nd.jsp?id=474&fromMid=442. The distance between the capillary pipes and the plants should be determined according to the root distribution of blueberry plants, generally 20 - 30 centimeters, so that water can directly drip onto the root absorption area and improve the water absorption efficiency.

When laying the pipelines, attention should be paid to the slope of the pipelines to ensure smooth drainage and avoid water accumulation. At the same time, all pipelines should be tightly connected to prevent water leakage. 3. Capillary Pipe Laying: The laying quality of the capillary pipes directly affects the drip irrigation effect. When laying the capillary pipes on both sides of the plants, it is necessary to ensure that the capillary pipes are laid flat, without distortion or knotting. The laying of the capillary pipes should be moderately tight or loose. If it is too loose, the capillary pipes may shift in the soil, affecting the position of the drip emitters and the uniformity of water output; if it is too tight, the capillary pipes may be broken or damaged. During the laying process, the capillary pipes can be fixed on the soil surface at certain intervals with plastic clips or other fixing devices to prevent them from moving. 4. Drip Emitter Installation: Drip emitters should be installed immediately after the seedlings are planted to ensure that blueberry plants can receive a timely water supply. Generally, four drip emitters are installed for each blueberry plant, symmetrically distributed around the plant. The installation position of the drip emitters should be close to the roots, generally 10 - 15 centimeters away from the base of the plant. When installing the drip emitters, it is necessary to ensure that the drip emitters are tightly connected to the capillary pipes without water leakage. At the same time, the working status of the drip emitters should be regularly checked. If the drip emitters are found to be clogged or damaged, they should be replaced or cleaned in a timely manner.

The number of drip irrigation times for blueberries should be reasonably arranged according to the soil moisture content and the phenological period of blueberries. In the early growth stage of blueberries, such as the germination stage, the plants have a relatively low demand for water, but the soil moisture content is also important at this time. Generally, drip irrigation can be carried out once every 7 - 10 days to keep the soil moist and promote the uniform germination of buds. Before entering the flowering stage, as the temperature rises and the plants grow faster, the water demand gradually increases, and the interval between drip irrigation can be shortened to 5 - 7 days. Adequate water supply during this period is helpful for the differentiation and development of flower buds. During the fruit expansion stage of blueberries, it is the period when the plants have the greatest demand for water. It is necessary to ensure that the soil has sufficient water, and drip irrigation can be carried out once every 3 - 5 days to meet the large demand for water during fruit expansion and promote the rapid growth and development of fruits. During the high-temperature and drought period in summer, in addition to the normal number of drip irrigation times, the number of irrigation times should be appropriately increased according to the weather conditions, and even a small amount of drip irrigation can be carried out every day to reduce the soil temperature, increase the air humidity, and relieve the damage to blueberry plants caused by high temperature. During the blueberry flowering period, special attention should be paid to controlling the amount of drip irrigation water and time. Avoid large-scale irrigation during the full flowering period to prevent affecting pollination and fertilization. Generally, the amount of drip irrigation can be appropriately increased before or after the flowering period, and the soil should be kept moderately moist during the flowering period. Before the soil is frozen in winter, a sufficient winter irrigation should be carried out to make the soil water content reach a saturated state to protect the blueberry roots from freezing damage and reserve enough water for the growth of plants in the next spring. In addition, in daily management, the soil moisture content should be frequently checked. For example, when touching the soil with hands and feeling that the soil is dry to a certain depth (such as 5 - 10 centimeters), drip irrigation should be carried out in a timely manner. The amount of irrigation water and the length of irrigation time vary according to the size of blueberry seedlings.

For young blueberry seedlings, whose root systems are not yet developed and have weak absorption ability, the amount of irrigation water should not be too large. Generally, the drip irrigation time for each time is controlled within 1 - 2 hours, so that the soil infiltration depth reaches 20 - 30 centimeters, avoiding water accumulation that may lead to root rot. As blueberry plants grow, their root systems gradually develop and their absorption ability is enhanced, and the amount of irrigation water can be gradually increased. For adult blueberry plants, the drip irrigation time for each time can be extended to 3 - 4 hours, and the infiltration depth should exceed the root distribution layer, generally reaching 40 - 60 centimeters to ensure that the roots can fully absorb water. In different growth stages of blueberries, the amount of irrigation water should also be adjusted. In the early and late growth stages, the amount of irrigation water is relatively small, while in the vigorous growth stage and the fruit expansion stage, the amount of irrigation water should be sufficient. At the same time, attention should be paid to checking the dripping situation of the drip emitters. If it is found that the dripping of the drip emitters is uneven or the amount of dripping water is too large or too small, the drip emitters should be adjusted in a timely manner or the pipelines should be checked for blockage, water leakage and other problems. Several observation points can be set in the drip irrigation area to regularly check the soil water content and the drip irrigation effect, and adjust the amount of irrigation water and the drip irrigation time according to the actual situation to ensure that blueberry plants are always in a suitable water environment.