Irrigation Management

The buds shown on the walnut branches are male flowers called catkins
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UC scientists ask walnut trees: When do you need to be irrigated?

April 16th, 2025
By Trina Kleist
UC scientists are working with growers in Tehama, Butte, Lake, Amador, Contra Costa, Stanislaus and Yolo counties to test a new way of measuring the irrigation needs of walnut trees. Shackel and team think this new method will allow growers to use less water by not irrigating early in the season, and trees…
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Phone with robot image in a farm field
Article

Survey on AI Chatbots in Farming

April 11th, 2025
This short survey aims to gather your valuable insights on how a specialized agricultural chatbot could assist with your day-to-day farming operations. You can either test our prototype and compare it with ChatGPT, or simply share which features would be most beneficial for your specific farming context.The…
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Key considerations when implementing a drip system

Topography: This refers to land surfaceshills, slopes, north/south orientation, valleys, rivers, lakes, (natural or artificial features)or buildings. All of these affect air and water flow and can create microclimates in your own yard.
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Drip irrigation in different landscape situations

Drip irrigation can be used to water trees, plants in containers, raised beds, and many other landscape situations. The amount of water needed and frequency of application varies greatly depending on plant species, soil conditions, and the local environment.
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Determining how much water to apply and how often

Water requirements of landscape plants change throughout the year. Daylength, temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed all affect the loss of water from soil and plants. In the absence of rain, these losses must be replenished by irrigating.
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Maintaining an Irrigation System

Yearly drip system maintenance is especially important to make sure plants are receiving the water they require and that none is being wasted. Check the system early in spring before it is turned on for spring-summer irrigation. This would include opening the end caps and flushing the system.
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How to get help

Sonoma County Master Gardeners are here to help! Garden Sense is a free program for Sonoma County residents who want to learn how to create a beautiful and sustainable garden that conserves water. We make home visits and provide information on low-water-use plant selection and irrigation.
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How to manage your home garden drip system
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Drip irrigation management

How to manage your drip irrigation system Irrigation control systems are used to ensure a desired level of moisture is maintained for the plants with or without the presence of a human operator. Beyond the basic components of a drip system, there are ways to manage the system as a whole.
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