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In the Okanagan Valley, maintaining soil moisture represents a challenge for cherry production.
Drought and limited water availability make it difficult to maintain the consistent soil moisture needed for tree growth and fruit development, while the region's sandy soils have a low water-holding capacity and dry out quickly.
Many orchards use micro-sprinkler irrigation systems that distribute water over the soil surface, but under hot and dry conditions, water often evaporates before reaching the root zone.
Drip irrigation can represent a more effective approach, as it delivers water directly and minimizes losses through evaporation.
Organic amendments, such as wood chip mulch, can further improve soil water retention by improving soil structure, increasing its water-holding capacity, and reducing surface evaporation.
Few studies have examined how irrigation systems and soil amendments interact to influence soil moisture and long-term orchard performance.
Compost beneath rows of cherry trees. Photo by M. Sharifi, AAFC.
The researchers studied how irrigation systems and soil amendments can help maintain soil moisture.
Over seven years, the researchers compared two irrigation systems (drip and micro-sprinkler) and five soil treatments (control, fumigation, compost, mulch, and compost plus mulch) to assess their effects on soil moisture, tree growth, and yield.
Source: this document was prepared by Nisa Chavez of the BC Food Web team, with the assistance of Mehdi Sharifi. The document is based on the following scientific article: Sharifi, M., Forge, T., Hannam, K., Kuchta, S., Neilsen, D., Asefpour Vakilian, K., & Yasari, E. (2026). Multi-year effects of irrigation method and organic amendments on soil moisture dynamics, tree growth, and sweet cherry productivity under standardized nutrient supply. Scientia Horticulturae, 358, 114715. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2026.114715.
Image source: Stefano Lugli
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