IRRIGATION CALENDAR FOR FRUIT PRODUCTION IN AREA OF TUZLA CANTON

Abstract

Nowadays, farmers in Bosnia and Herzegovina are facing climate change-related problems almost constantly. Treats such as late frost, extreme temperature or precipitation events, drought, floods and hail are becoming frequent and more devastating.
In order to achieve sustainable production and rational use of water resources together with environmental protection and reduction of risk, farmers should use decision-support tools such as the irrigation calendar or chart. Using such calendars can save up to 30% of water while maintaining yields and requiring minimum data or need for developing new skills. In this study, irrigation calendars for orchard production (apple, pear and plum) in Tuzla Canton taking in consideration different soil characteristics were developed. Critical month for the irrigation in Tuzla Canton is July. Average orchard water requirement is around 667 mm, or 146 mm in the critical month. Under normal weather conditions, daily irrigation requirements in July amounts to 2.64 l of water per m², if conditions are dry or extremely dray then these values should double.