Effects of Tensiometer-Based Automated Irrigation on Growth and Fruit Quality of ‘Fuji’/M9 Apples in an Open-Field Orchard

Jong Kyun Kim; Young-Jun You; Jongyun Kim

doi:10.12791/KSBEC.2025.34.4.631

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2025 Vol.34, Issue 4 Preview Page Next Page

Original Articles

Effects of Tensiometer-Based Automated Irrigation on Growth and Fruit Quality of ‘Fuji’/M9 Apples in an Open-Field Orchard 노지 사과원에서 토양수분장력 기반 자동관수가 사과 ‘Fuji’/M9 수체 생육 및 과실 특성에 미치는 영향

31 October 2025. pp. 631-639

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Abstract

Climate change has increased the demand for precise water management in open-field orchards, and soil moisture tension-based management is gaining attention. This study investigated an optimal irrigation strategy for high-quality apple production using a tensiometer-based automated irrigation system over two years (2022－2023) in a ‘Fuji’/M9 apple (Malus domestica) orchard in Andong, Korea. Five irrigation treatments, including three soil moisture tension thresholds (－30, －45, and －60 kPa), a growth stage-based recommended threshold, and a rainfall-based conventional irrigation treatment were compared. The automated irrigation system operated appropriately at each threshold and maintained stable soil moisture, whereas the conventional treatment, particularly in the high-rainfall year 2023, failed to irrigate when apple trees needed, resulting in excessively negative soil moisture tension. Vegetative growth showed no irrigation treatment effects; interannual variation was attributed to rainfall and solar radiation. Fruit quality traits were generally better in 2023 than in 2022. The －30 kPa treatment produced the largest fruit, while the －45 kPa treatment achieved the highest sugar contents. The effects of irrigation treatment differed by year, affected by cumulative water management over two years and high rainfall in 2023. The conventional treatment produced the smallest fruit in 2023, because irrigation was not applied at the time when the trees needed water, despite abundant rainfall. Cumulative irrigation indicated that the －45 kPa treatment used about 8% less water than the －30 kPa treatment while maintaining fruit size and enhancing sugar contents and acidity, identifying －45 kPa as an efficient irrigation threshold for apple orchards. These results indicate that the tensiometer-based automated irrigation system can effectively produce high-quality apples and improve water-use efficiency in open fields.

Keywords

efficient irrigation

irrigation threshold

smart farming

soil-based cultivation

soil moisture sensor

기후변화로 인해 노지 과수원의 정밀한 토양수분 관리 중요성이 커지고 있으며, 최근에는 토양수분장력 기반 관리 방법이 주목받고 있다. 본 연구는 고품질 사과 생산을 위한 최적 토양수분 관리 방법을 규명하고자, 경상북도 안동의 노지 사과원에서 2년간(2022－2023) 토양수분장력센서 기반 자동관수시스템을 적용하여, 네 수준의 자동관수 처리구(－30, －45, －60kPa, 생육시기별 추천)와 강우량 기반 관행 처리구를 비교하였다. 토양수분장력 기반 자동관수는 설정한 관수개시점에 따라 관수가 알맞게 진행되어 토양수분이 안정적으로 유지되었으나, 관행 처리구에서는 특히 강우량이 많았던 2023년에 필요한 시점에 관수가 이루어지지 않아 토양수분장력 값이 낮게 나타났다. 수체 생육은 처리 간 뚜렷한 차이가 없었으며, 연차별 차이는 강우와 일사 조건에 기인한 것으로 판단된다. 과실 특성은 2022년보다 2023년에 전반적으로 향상되었으며, －30kPa 처리구는 큰 과실 크기를 보였고, －45kPa 처리구는 가장 높은 당도를 나타냈다. 관수 처리구에 따른 차이는 연도별로 다르게 나타났는데, 이는 2년간의 물 관리의 누적 효과와 2023년의 많은 강우에 의한 영향으로 판단된다. 2023년 관행 처리구는 강우가 많았음에도 불구하고 수분 공급 시점이 적절하지 않아 과실 크기가 가장 작았다. 누적 관수량 분석 결과, －45kPa 처리구는 －30kPa 처리구 대비 약 8%의 물을 절감하면서도 과실 크기 저하 없이 높은 당도와 산도를 유지하여 노지 사과원의 효율적인 토양수분 관리 방법으로 확인되었다. 본 연구는 노지 사과원에서 토양수분장력센서 기반 자동관수시스템이 고품질 사과 생산과 수분 이용 효율 개선에 효과적임을 검증하였다.

키워드

관수개시점

스마트팜

토경 재배

토양수분센서

효율적 관수

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Information

Publisher :The Korean Society for Bio-Environment Control
Publisher(Ko) :(사)한국생물환경조절학회
Journal Title :Journal of Bio-Environment Control
Journal Title(Ko) :생물환경조절학회지
Volume : 34
No :4
Pages :631-639
Received Date : 2025-10-02
Revised Date : 2025-10-30
Accepted Date : 2025-10-31
DOI :https://doi.org/10.12791/KSBEC.2025.34.4.631

Journal of Bio-Environment Control ISSN:1229-4675(Print) 2765-3641(Online) 생물환경조절학회지

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