Soil salinity: Still a serious issue in California

California grower expands validation project

Stephen Smith, president of Turlock Fruit Co., is an early adopter. In 2016, he participated in a critical part of the Aqua 4D process — “validation.” Smith used the Aqua 4D system to irrigate 10 acres of melons and 10 acres of almonds in Firebaugh. Untreated water was applied to adjoining fields and orchards, providing the ability to directly compare outcomes based on a single variable.

The results were promising enough that, this year, Smith expanded the Aqua 4D system to 300 acres of almonds – half his company’s total. He also plans another validation study on 10 acres of melons that will be planted later this spring in especially salty soil.

“The system definitely made a difference in the quality of the water we applied, most of which came from wells,” he said. “With almonds, we saw a difference with the EC at 2 or 3 feet. … We’ve had a 10 percent reduction in yield the last three years. My belief is that is directly the result of salt in the water.”

Excess salinity poses a direct threat to California agriculture. Aqua 4D is actively recruiting far-sighted agribusinessmen – like Smith – to conduct validation studies of nut, citrus or stone fruit orchards, vineyards and row crops