Celery Water Requirements – How to irrigate Celery
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Note: the following information is for Apium graveolens var. graveolens (Celery).
Celery is a shallow-rotted crop, has generally increased water requirements, and is very sensitive to drought stress, even for a short period of time. Under persistent water stress, the plants have a decreased growth rate, and the stalks become dry and fibrous with a bitter taste.
To plant an appropriate irrigation schedule to cover plant needs efficiently and decrease water loss, celery farmers should consider the water crop requirements per growth stage, the weather conditions (e.g., temperature), and the soil type, and monitor the soil moisture. Before planting celery, farmer may have to irrigate to bring the soil to field capacity. To succeed in this, you can apply around 20 mm of water (the amount may differ depending on the soil characteristics). Moreover, to help seedlings establishment, another irrigation with 10 mm may be needed. As the plants grow, they require 1-2 inches of water (irrigation or rainfalls) weekly.
On average, celery, plants need 3,000 m2 of water per hectare. Most growers prefer to apply this amount in one dose once per week or every fortnight during the first growing stages and increasing frequency (1-2 times per week) during the summer period and before seed maturity. Keep in mind that the plant’s water demand peaks during the last 1-2 months before harvest.
Farmers generally prefer to irrigate their plants early in the morning or late in the evening to reduce water loss via evaporation. It is essential to avoid irregular watering, especially in plantations suffering from black heart disease (calcium deficiency).
Celery Irrigation Systems
Nowadays, professional farmers choose to irrigate with sprinklers (static, on a pivot system, or microjet misters). However, due to the higher risk of foliar fungal diseases (like Septoria) under this system, many prefer drip irrigation with surface systems (around 30%) and combine it with fertigation. Some apply furrow irrigation in areas with strong winds, except drip irrigation.
The plants need a relatively stable moisture content to maximize the growth rate around the active-primary root zone. As a result, no more than 20-30% of water depletion should be recorded between irrigations. More specifically, during the warmest periods, some farmers that use drip irrigation choose to water their plants daily and break the total amount into 2 doses (most in the early morning and the rest in the mid-afternoon).
Tip: It may take 12-26 hours of irrigation to apply 1 inch of water with drip irrigation
Finally, it is best to use irrigation water with electrical conductivity (EC) reading of less than 180mS/m and total dissolved salts lower than 1,000 mg/kg to minimize the risk of toxicities.
To increase the efficiency of irrigation and satisfy the needs of the plants with greater precision throughout the different developmental stages, celery growers use sensors like tensiometers to monitor moisture levels on a daily basis. Farmers are advised to install the tensiometers in different areas of their fields, in plant rows, and 25-30 cm (10-12 inches) deep.
References
- https://www.irrometer.com/pdf/research/Drip_Irrigation_Fertigation_Management_%20Celery-Celery_Grower_guidelines.pdf
- https://agritech.tnau.ac.in/horticulture/horti_vegetables_celery.html
- http://nhb.gov.in/model-project-reports/Horticulture%20Crops/Celery/Celery1.htm
- https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/celery/growing-celery-western-australia?page=0%2C2#smartpaging_toc_p2_s2_h3
- https://extension.usu.edu/yardandgarden/research/celery-in-the-garden
- https://southafrica.co.za/celery-planting.html
- https://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/pdf/7220.pdf
Further reading
Interesting Facts, Nutritional Value and Plant Information of Celery
How to Grow Celery in a Pot in your garden
Growing Celery for Profit – Commercial Celery Farming
Celery Soil preparation, Soil requirements, and Seeding requirements
Celery Water Requirements – How to irrigate Celery
Celery Fertilizer Requirements
