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FREE "Better Water Book: A Holistic Guide to pH Management, Soil Health, and Sustainable Agriculture"
Complete guide to pH management, soil biology, and sustainable agriculture with case studies, technical information, and proven strategies - instant download when you subscribe!
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Cherry Success:Perfect pH for Premium Fruit
Research-backed pH management for profitable cherry production
Sweet cherries are highly sensitive to soil pH and water quality — and your irrigation water could be quietly sabotaging your orchard's potential season after season.
At CTC Waterworks, we've helped cherry growers optimize their water quality for 40+ years. This guide explains why your irrigation water pH matters for cherries, what research shows, and how sulfur burners can protect your soil, enhance your fruit quality, and maximize your profits.
📄 Print-Optimized Version Available
Perfect for field reference, team sharing, or adding to your sulfur burner sell sheets
1: Ideal Soil pH for Cherries
"Sweet cherries prefer well-drained soils with a slightly acidic to neutral pH, generally between 6.0 and 7.0. Soil pH outside this range can reduce nutrient availability, especially micronutrients like iron and zinc."
If your irrigation water is high in bicarbonates, it can raise soil pH over time — tying up nutrients, causing yellowing leaves, and hurting fruit quality.
2: Impact of High Bicarbonates in Irrigation
Think of bicarbonates as tiny pH "elevators" in your water. When you irrigate with high-bicarbonate water, these compounds slowly but steadily raise soil pH. It's like adding lime to your cherry orchard, drop by drop, season after season. Even if your soil pH starts in the optimal range, alkaline irrigation water can gradually push it above the sweet spot for cherry production.
"High bicarbonate levels in irrigation water increase soil pH, reduce infiltration rates, and can result in nutrient deficiencies for perennial tree fruit crops."
Water testing for bicarbonate levels helps prevent soil pH creep and expensive corrective amendments later. Inline acidification can keep your water in the safe range.
3: Effect on Drip & Microirrigation
"Water quality directly affects the performance of microirrigation systems. Carbonate precipitates can clog emitters and reduce system efficiency."
When using drip on cherries, untreated alkaline water increases risk of plugged emitters. Inline acidification helps dissolve these minerals before they build up.
❌ High-Bicarbonate Water Problems:
- • Clogged drip emitters
- • Uneven water distribution
- • Reduced system efficiency
- • Poor fruit quality
✅ With pH Management:
- • Clean, efficient emitters
- • Uniform water application
- • Better nutrient uptake
- • Premium fruit quality
4: PNW-Specific Water Quality Insight
"Tree fruit growers in the Pacific Northwest must monitor irrigation water quality, especially bicarbonate levels, to protect soil pH and orchard health long-term."
Even if you start with good soil pH, high bicarbonate water can gradually push it up year after year — putting you at risk for iron chlorosis, poor nutrient uptake, and lower yields.
5: Recommended Bicarbonate Threshold
"When bicarbonate levels exceed 120 ppm in irrigation water, it's recommended to use acidification to prevent soil alkalinity and infiltration problems."
Neutralizing bicarbonates protects your soil pH, orchard uniformity, and fruit quality — season after season.
Why Choose CTC Sulfur Burners for Cherries:
Ready to Optimize Your Cherry Orchard?
Don't let alkaline water limit your fruit quality and yields.
Trusted by 1000+ growers nationwide • 40+ years of proven results