Revolution in fruit growing: This is how researchers save our apple harvest!

Revolution in fruit growing: This is how researchers save our apple harvest!

in Werder (Havel) the fruit growing industry faces major challenges, not least due to the late frosts this year. For scientists from the Institute for Hydrology and Meteorology at the Technical University of Dresden, however, there is a unique opportunity in this difficult time. Professor Niels Schütze, who leads a project for economical irrigation of orchards, explains that the decline in yields through the frost damage promotes experimenting with new irrigation methods.

efficient irrigation through new knowledge

A central result that the researchers have won is the realization that it is better to intensively irrigate fruit trees at larger intervals instead of adding small amounts of water every day. What is perhaps known for hobby gardeners is now being specified by collected data: It can be precisely determined in which intervals and with which amounts of water the plants have to be irrigated for optimal development.

This innovative approach not only has the potential to significantly reduce water consumption, but also to increase the fruiter's income sustainably. The project should not only be important for the Werder region. Professor Schütze explains that the developed models can also be applied to other fruit building locations with just a few other ground data. This is particularly important to counter the growing challenges through climate change.

Another interesting result of the investigations was the comparison of the microclimatic events on the Glindower plate with the data of the Potsdam weather station. The realization that the temperatures and wind speeds in the Havel region are usually lower can be decisive for the growth of the plants. While this is helpful in the summer to protect the soils from drying out, the cold weather in spring could increase the risk of late frosts.

As part of the planned research, the effect of late frosts on cultures was also analyzed more precisely. Especially at the height of the apple tree crowns, the temperatures in the critical period from 22nd to April 24th due to reduced winds were particularly low. This led to devastating damage to the flowering trees, which are known to be very sensitive to frost.

potential of the glindower plate

Another exciting aspect of research is a comprehensive analysis of the soil conditions on the Glindower plate. The hydrologists find that the floors are far better than their reputation. The existing layer of clay, which is at a depth of 70 to 100 centimeters, works like a water memory. This natural property of the floors enables the fruit trees to be saved up to 100 millimeters of water in the root area.

The knowledge from the project that is funded by the state of Brandenburg could be used in the future in further projects. The creation of an irrigation atlas or a special app for fruit growers is considered. In order to spread these newly gained knowledge in the industry, an exchange with various actors Sturm to the Technical University of Dresden, the Ministry of Agriculture and the City of Werder (Havel) will take place on October 8th.

For the fruit growers in Werder, the year may be challenging with the numerous adversity, but for research it has the possibility of collecting and spread valuable information for the future of fruit growing. Developments could be important not only for regional, but also for national agricultural practices and help to use the resources more effectively.