A Kern County, Calif., workshop on irrigation scheduling in permanent crops is scheduled for April 8, at the University of California Cooperative Extension conference at 1031 S. Mt. Vernon Ave., in Bakersfield, Calif.

It begins at 8:30 a.m. and is co-sponsored by UCCE and North-West Kern RCD Mobile Irrigation Lab.

Presenters include Blake Sanden, Kern County UC Irrigation/Soils Advisor; Ken Shackel, Pomology UC Davis; and the master of the pressure chamber, Brian Hockett, NW Kern RCD Mobile Irrigation Lab; and farm/irrigation managers in Kern County discussing the possibilities and pitfalls of irrigation scheduling in permanent crops.

A variety of handouts will be provided, including weekly “normal year” crop water use for permanent crops, estimating soil moisture and plant stress (stem water potential, SWP) guidelines.

There will be a lengthy discussion on the use of a pressure bomb to manage irrigation water. There will be several pressure bombs available for growers to practice measuring leaf water potential.

The irrigation workshop concludes at 12:30 p.m.