The value of water storage in fruit growing
Water is not always available when the trees need it
Fruit growers also suffer from climate changes, dealing with both extended periods of drought and moments of waterlogging. Some days bring as much precipitation as normally falls in a month, while other months see no drop of rain.
For fruit growing, both soft and top fruit, sufficient and good-quality water is one of the primary conditions for healthy harvests. Drought is by far the biggest stress factor threatening production. It directly impacts the growth of plants and trees, and thus affects yields in both volume and fruit size.
We can no longer take the availability of water for granted. For some growers dependence on rainwater is high, as groundwater is too deep, piped freshwater can be costly, and some areas also suffer severely from salinisation. Therefore, more and more fruit growers decide to capture rainwater or any other type of water they can access. They store it and use it later when needed through drip irrigation.
Water whenever you need it
Water that becomes available through rain, a well or surface water is often not directly usable at the moment it is needed. A buffer tank temporarily stores the water, allows for filtering or mixing recipes, and enables it to be used at the exact moment when the trees need it. Especially in modern irrigation systems timing is crucial: too much or too little water at the wrong moment can have immediate consequences for yield and quality.
Water storage tanks offer peace of mind. They make irrigation systems less dependent on weather conditions or the immediate availability of water. This gives growers greater flexibility in their planning and the confidence that they can always provide their trees with what they need.
Practical examples: from soft fruit to apple orchards
NPI water tanks support the irrigation of countless apples, pears and soft fruit around the world, from large companies with high-tech irrigation systems to small-scale growers. Below is a selection of our projects with fruit growers:
With increasing pressure on water resources and changing climate conditions, the importance of water storage continues to grow. By storing rainwater or other available sources in tanks, fruit growers can work more efficiently and better handle dry periods and peak demand. This way, water storage is an investment in future-proof cultivation.
