Water Wheel March 2022: Agricultural Water Use

Abstract

Growing more with less – helping pecan farmers flourish How much water do mature pecan orchards need to flourish? What happens to the yield and quality of pecan orchards if there is not enough water? How does a pecan tree’s water use change with changing environmental conditions and canopy size? And: What is the water use efficiency and water use productivity of pecan trees grown in South Africa? These are some of the questions being answered in a study currently underway in the Northern Cape. The project is funded by the Water Research Commission (WRC) and the South African Pecan Nut Producers Association (SAPPA) (WRC Project No. K5/2814/4). This study is part of ongoing efforts by the WRC to help ensure sustainable water use and agricultural production in key regions. Dr Nicky Taylor, a researcher in the University of Pretoria’s (UP) Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, is the lead researcher involved. She is collaborating with scientists at the Stellenbosch University and the University of KwaZulu-Natal on this project.

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