Watering the Walnut Tree; Since walnut trees are broad-leaved and broad-branched trees, they need a lot of water. Also, if these trees are planted as saplings, if the planting pits are not dug deep, they need regular irrigation for two years, especially if they are not grown from seed. Here, the meaning of how deep and wide the planting pit should be before planting becomes clear.
For walnuts, it is very important to meet the water requirements during the development, growth and filling periods of the fruits in the spring. The drought conditions in this period may slow down the growth and development and cause the fruits not to be able to fill them sufficiently, which may cause low quality and yield.
WHEN SHOULD A WALNUT TREE BE WATERED?
a ) When the leaves and flowers are blooming in the walnut trees,
b ) When the required fertilizer is given,
c ) When the fruit is the size of a marble,
d ) When the fruit is filling,
e ) 15 days before the harvest.
In regions where there will be late frosts, beneficial results have been obtained since the water given before the tree wakes up late. It is absolutely necessary to give water at the time of filling the walnuts, and if water is not given, the quality of the fruit decreases. If there is no precipitation immediately after the harvest, water should be given, if too much water is given, the tree will fall asleep and frost will occur. Since the walnut fruit will hardly break on the branch at the end of a dry summer, water must be given before the harvest.
Especially in the regions where the first frosts of autumn are effective, the vegetation process (the period until the time the seedlings are planted and bears fruit) should be stopped by the end of August, since the shoot growth will continue. As it will do, both the development of the tree stops and the fruit rate decreases.
Some measures to be taken for irrigation are:
After the second year following the planting, especially the keel irrigation work should be abandoned. Since the keel irrigation will cause the sudden loss of minerals and fertilizers in the soil, it causes the soil to become poor. It is also one of the causes of root rot, as it will hold excessive water at the root base.
• Soil depth and cultivation should be loosened in arid areas and good pile roots should be made.
• Cover crops and reptile type plants should be planted, except for taller agricultural products.
WALNUT SEEDLING DRIP IRRIGATION
The basic principle in the drip irrigation method is to give a small amount of irrigation water at a time, with the help of a pressure pipe and drippers, only to the area where the plant roots develop, without creating a tension caused by the lack of moisture in the plant.
*The most important feature of the system is that the area is not completely wetted, only a wet ground is obtained along the plant row, and a dry area remains between the plant rows, so that the irrigation water will be utilized at the highest level. Since the wetted area will remain in the shade, evaporation will be less and maximum water savings will be achieved.
*As the root zone reaches moisture saturation, the plant consumes less energy to take water and this is an important factor affecting the crop increase.
* Since the plant nutrients are given to the root zone of the plant with irrigation water when the plant needs it, fertilizer is used at the highest level.
* Since the plant rows are not wetted, it does not allow weed growth.
* Since the above-ground parts of the plant are not wetted, the development of plant diseases is prevented.
*As irrigation water can be applied in desired amount and with the best control
*High efficiency, easy to operate, irrigation labor is zero.