Blueberry grower in P.E.I. harnesses the sun to irrigate and fertilize crop 

A blueberry grower in P.E.I. is using the power of the sun to irrigate and fertilize his crop by way of a custom-designed system of solar panels and pumps. 

Gerard Morrison planted six acres of high-bush blueberries eight years ago at The Berry Orchard in Launching, east of Cardigan. He started harvesting them three years ago. 

It was very dry the year he planted, and Morrison ended up watering them by hand.

That inspired him to search for a more creative way to irrigate.

"We're located probably 700 metres from the highway from the grid, so it was quite expensive to run power lines in," Morrison said. "We came up with a solar design, which I only need when the sun is out."

There are six irrigation zones, one per acre of berries. 

Morrison grows 11 varieties of berry, and designed the system of underground hoses and valves so he can control how much water each type gets. 

He didn't have to use the underground irrigation last August because it rained frequently, providing enough natural moisture for the berries. 

Morrison also uses the system to deliver liquid fertilizer to the plants. 

"It helps give nutrition to the plants. We do it once when the blossom comes out in the spring and it makes the plants healthier," Morrison said. 

"Plus, we can give irrigation water to the berries themselves once they're ready to get ripened. So it helps the quality of the berry."

Morrison said the system cost about $12,000 to install, and the orchard received a 30 per cent rebate from the P.E.I. Department of Agriculture. 

The solar panels have meant there is no monthly electricity bill for the blueberry operation. 

"We're only here about two months of the year that we have to irrigate," Morrison said. "Definitely we're not paying a bill monthly — and it's once it's set up, it's almost maintenance-free."