Modelling Soil Water Redistribution in Irrigated Japanese Plum (Prunus salicina) Orchards in the Western Cape (South Africa)

Japanese plum (Prunus salicina) farming in the Western Cape (South Africa) is an important industry for the export market and job creation and is a large water user; however, adequate information on water requirements of this crop is not available in this semi-arid area. The objective of this study was to determine seasonal plum water requirements for the purpose of water use planning and allocation. The study made use of experimental data from four fully bearing, high-yielding plum orchards (cv African Delight and Fortune) in two major plum production regions (Robertson and Wellington). Crop water requirements and the soil water balance were modelled with the physically based HYDRUS-2D model. Seasonal crop water requirements were estimated to be between 524 mm (cv Fortune in Wellington) and 864 mm (cv African Delight in Robertson). Initial basal crop coefficients (Kcb) ranged between 0.98 and 1.01, whilst Kcb for the mid-stage averaged between 1.11 (cv African Delight in Robertson) and 1.18 (cv Fortune in Wellington). Modelling scenarios indicated that soil water redistribution beyond the root zone continues at reduced rates after the soil dries to levels below field capacity. Irrigation management needs to be balanced with other farming practices to reduce leaching and impacts on water resource quality, as well as with the economics of the farm.

Automated summary

Japanese plum farming in the Western Cape is a significant industry for export and job creation, but information on its water requirements in the semi-arid area is lacking. This study used experimental data and modeling to determine seasonal plum water requirements. The estimated water requirements ranged from 524 mm to 864 mm, depending on the plum variety and region. Irrigation management should consider reducing leaching and impacts on water quality while also considering the farm's economics.