Fórián, Tünde

Nagy, Attila

Nyéki, József

Soltész, Miklós

Tamás, János

International Journal of Horticultural Science

University of Debrecen Electronic Archive

Introduction
In Hungary, 2% of all cultivated land is irrigated. The
orchard is relatively not highly water consumer comparison
with cereal species. However, to ensure optimal water
capacity values calculating breeding season it is the most
important risk factor. It cannot imagine the fruit production
without modern irrigation system even in the humid French
and German areas. Nowadays, in Hungary there isn’t any
intensive apple and pear orchard, where they would question
the importance of the irrigation. The agricultural water
management is the unkindly area of the plan based on the
Water Framework Directive accepted in December 2009. The
irrigation technique is neglected unfairly comparing with the
other technology elements. The plan determined present
conditions of the 42 surface water catchments and subsurface
water bodies in Hungary, and worked out the water
management aims. The common aim is the achievement of
the good ecological status in our water bodies. There are no
farmers, who can leave this out of consideration: developing
the irrigation system. The ecological, sociological and
environmental respects were significantly upgraded over and
above technology point of view. Following we emphasize the
critical points that farmers requirement for improving
successfully growing technology based on irrigation in a
middle time, without completeness.
Materials and methods
The research field was the genetic collection of pear at
Újfehértó, in Hungary, which is situated in Nyírség meso-
region. The area of the site is 2,74 ha, with 1660 possible
spaces of pear trees. The physical characteristic of the soil is
sandy and the pear orchard is not irrigated. Hyperspectral
imagery is also appropriate for vegetation analysis (Clark,
1999; Kruse, 2003; Milics et al. 2008; Polder et al. 2001;
Sabins, 1997; Tamás et al. 2009). Minimum at the visible
spectral range is related to pigments in plant leaves.
Chlorophyll absorbs markedly spectral range between
450–670 nm. Healthy vegetation reflects the 40–50% of the
incoming energy between 700–1300 nm spectral ranges due
to the internal structure of the canopy. In this way, the
measured reflectance plays an important role in
distinguishing different plant species, even if these species
are seems to be similar based on visible spectral range (Berke
et al., 2004).
In 2006, an AISA DUAL airborne hyperspectral cam
system were installed and operated in cooperation the
University of Debrecen, AMTC, Department of Water and
Environmental Management with the Mechanization
Institute of Agricultural Ministry in Gödöllô. The most
important parts of the hyperspectral sensors are the
spectrograph, which dissolve the electric waves arrived
through the optical rift with the help of prisms and optical
screen. The hyperspectral sensor consists of one optic, one
spectrograph and one digital cam. The two hyperspectral
sensors are assemble in a house, therefore it is known ASIA
DUAL system. The two cams can perceive in the visible
wavelength, near infrared range and short wave infrared
range. The Eagle camera takes images in visible and near
infrared range (VNIR), while Hawk operates in the middle
infrared range (SWIR). By means of establishing of two
camera a DUAL system were installed. The full range
400–2450 nm, which can be set 1,25–10 nm wavelength
band and maximum 498 spectral channels. Two sensors can
Pilot study for irrigation modelling of a pear plantation
Tamás, J.1, Fórián, T.1, Nagy, A.1, Nyéki, J.2, Soltész, M.2 & Szabó, Z.2
1University of Debrecen, Centre of Agricultural Sciences and Engineering, Faculty of Agronomy, Department of
Water and Environmental Management, H-4032 Debrecen, Böszörményi 138, Hungary,
tamas@gisserver1.date.hu
2University of Debrecen, Centre of Agricultural Sciences and Engineering, Institute for Research and
Development
Summary:Our investigation was carried out in the area of Fruit growing Research and Consultant non-profit company, at Újfehértó. The pear
requires large water quantity, but this pear plantation hasn’t irrigation system not yet. This study reviews the drainage conditions of the area
based on digital elevation model, and examined the canopy cover of pear trees by evaluating of the hyperspectral image. Our aims were to
determine the exact watershed based irrigation modelling and determining of the canopy% of the pear orchard to facilitate a precision
irrigation decision support system.
Key words: digital elevation model, pear orchard, irrigation, hyperspectral imagine
International Journal of Horticultural Science 2010, 16 (3): 81–84.
Agroinform Publishing House, Budapest, Printed in Hungary
ISSN 1585-0404
82
also be operated separately, so it makes
possible to utilize the wider wave-
length of higher resolution (1024
pixels) VNIR sensor.
ENVI 4.7 software was applied for
the analysis of hyperspectral images.
First the determination of NDVI
(Normalized Difference Vegetation
Index) is necessary in order to obtain
the location of the barren spots,
because the assessment of the mineral
distribution is only carried out if no
disturbance effect of the canopy
appears. Values of the NDVI index are
calculated from the reflected solar
radiation in the near-infrared (NIR)
and red (R) wavelength bands, 580-
680 nm, and 730-1100 nm, respec-
tively. NDVI can be determined using
the following formula:
NDVI=(NIR-R)/(NIR+R).
The digital elevation model and drainage conditions of
the investigation area were determined by the Spatial Analyst
module of ArcGis 9.2 software. We carried out several field
works to survey the species and tree parameters of pear
genetic collection and to draw map of plantation.
Results and discussion
The meso-landscape of Nyírség is poor in surface waters.
The well based irrigation needs to use deeper and deeper
aquifers and even the danger of overutilization of these layers
is continually increasing. The water saving micro watering
couldn’t use the raw lifted water without cleaning because of
its manganese and iron content. The built up of the surface
works don’t admits to withdraw water from surface waters.
However the fruit orchard has great responsibility to save
the subsurface water quality. In the case of the pesticide
treated pear plantations the soluble contaminations could get
into the water stock in two ways: in sandy soils with
infiltration, in hard ground with overland flow. The 49% of
the country is above water stocks which are vulnerable
against nitrate contamination and in case of fruit orchards
this assumes even greater dimensions.
Since the water resources are limited in time and in space,
significant part of the orchard owners are using – if they can
afford it – water supplement watering. Because the actual water
cycle of the fruit orchards are not exactly known, the impact of
this watering is accidental. In practice in greater drought
periods the results of the supplementary watering are compared
to the relations without watering, but without knowing the
optimal water supply the whole harvest falling out could be
only estimated. According to the meteorological time series in
case of Pomaceae on the average 200–300 mm watering norm
would be optimal with 7–14 days watering turn-rounds.
The watering planning and operational tasks needs
differentiated solving in time and in space. The professional
decisions precondition is to value the risks and expectable
advantages of watering in a scientific level.
Below we look over shortly the decisional and planning
point of views in connection with watering. The watering has an
influence on every cultivation elements, but to take advantage of
all its benefits we must re-plan the area according to the
following standpoints. The integrated soil and water
management plays a key role in achieving long-term sustainable
and profitable fruit production, which safeguards the
environment and ensures a high-quality product. In general, for
good tree-crop growth, the soil needs to be loose, with good
aggregation to facilitate the circulation of air, water and nutrients
and the penetration of roots. Strongly degraded soils with
reduced and non-interconnected porosity, and reduced levels of
organic matter, do not have the capacity to store as much water
as they should, and thus have less water available for crop
growth. Soil-structure degradation, often called soil compaction,
is regarded as the most serious form of land degradation caused
by conventional farming practices (McGarry, 2003).
In the course of establishment of plantations the relief
and the soil parameters are determinative factors. Beside the
slope gradient there is a less significant factor the aspect. In
the case of micro-relief the ratio of the convex / concave
slopes determine the drainage and the water gathering, which
can be model with the help of the digital elevation model. In
this case we used the 1:10000 scale of DEM of investigation
area at Újfehértó prepared by Inverse Distance Weighted
method. In this area there is a 12 m relative relief. But the
DEM shows that the area has very significant micro-relief
differences (Figure 1).According to relief data it could not be
prospective 18% of local gradient, which is characteristic of
hilly country. The sand-dunes caused the forming of varied
spatial pattern of the local drainage divides and water
catchments in a relatively small area (Figure 2). The longest
flow length is 562,4 m in this area.
Tamás, J., Fórián, T., Nagy, A., Nyéki, J., Soltész, M. & Szabó, Z.
Figure 1. Digital elevation model and the slope gradient map (%) of investigation area
83
On the basis of catchment
segments bordered by flow directions
5 different types can be found on this
area (Figure 3). The first catchment
category is located separately along
four other zones in North-South
direction. These include several local
sink without an outlet keeping up
anaerobe conditions.
A living or dead vegetative soil
cover absorbs most of the energy of the
raindrops that fall on it and by the time
this rainwater reaches the soil below,
its ability to disintegrate soil
aggregates and detach fine particles is
greatly reduced. Furthermore, it is the
contact cover that is immediately
accessible to soil macro organisms and
can stimulate their activity. Thus,
greater numbers of bio-pores are likely
to be formed in association with cover
crops, leading to more rapid water
infiltration and movement within the
soil.
Shoot length, number of buds and
plant health are influenced by the
physical-chemical fertility of soil. For
example, leaf colour is related strictly
to water and nutrient availability and
especially to nitrogen content – the
better the soil fertility, the greener the
leaf. The number of flowers is related
to soil physical status; its intensity
depends on energy and plant-available
carbohydrates, which relate in part to
soil fertility (physical, chemical and
microbiological). Shoot length is an
expression of plant vigour and general plant growth, which
are regulated by nutrient and water availability. Moreover,
although flower development at budding is influenced in part
by climate conditions and the amount of stored reserves, it
depends considerably on soil conditions and root
functionality.
Diseases, especially Venturia sp., can cause serious water
losses on apple and pearl varieties. Under high relative
humidity and moisture, disease attack seems to be more
common in plantation managed with soil tillage rather than
in those with permanent cover crops (Holb, 2006). Indeed
soil health in orchards is also related to microbial populations
capable of suppressing soil-borne disease. Microbes that live
in the plant rhizosphere, the surrounding soil influenced
directly by the root, can contribute to soil-disease suppressi-
veness, reducing the effect of many soil-borne diseases.
Disease control by rhizosphere microbial communities has
also been shown to extend to systemic and foliar diseases
through the activation of the chemical and physical defence
mechanisms of the plant.
Pilot study for irrigation modelling of a pear plantation
Figure 2. The flow direction and length in the investigation area at Újfehértó
Figure 4. NDVI values of the pear trees
Figure 3. Small water catchments in the investigation area
84
On the basis of the results of NDVI examination, we
determined four different categories (Figure 4) as follows:
1. No vegetation- soil surface: 0,889 ha
2. Weed: 0,674 ha
3. Poor vegetation: 0,925 ha
4. Dense vegetation: 0,464 ha.
It can be mentioned, that the second and third categories
contain the new plantations (2-5 years old), because of small
foliage.
Conclusion
There is a need to quantify a whole cropping system – a very
complex, but important task. The concept of using “crop
coefficients” as generalisms of tree/crop types are too broad and
vague in irrigation scheduling work. Based on our experiences
we conclude that better information could be gained using
remote sensing and measures such as leaf-area index.
The growing demand is to link such work with precision
agriculture; particularly as private (commercial) companies
have a great interest in this. However, they require a very soft
(user friendly) “front-end” to such simulation models – a
very demanding task. There is scope to research the
combined approach of simulation models with geographical
information systems and digital terrain (elevation) models,
and remote sensing. The plan is to combine these in order to
gain a closer approximation of reality.
Acknowledgement
This research was funded by NKTH OM-00042/2008,
OM-00265/2008, OM-00270/2008, GVOP 3.1.1-2004-05-
0087/3, FVM31174/1/2008 projects.
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Pilot study for irrigation modelling of a pear plantation

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Pilot study for irrigation modelling of a pear plantation

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