Effects of Different Deficit Irrigation Strategies on Yield, Fruit Quality and Some Parameters: ‘Braeburn’ Apple Cultivar

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the effects of deficit irrigation applied in different periods to dwarf rootstock apple trees (cv. ‘Braeburn’)on vegetative development, yield, fruit quality and marketable yield for three years (2010-2012). There were six different treatments (none deficit irrigation, T1; continuous deficit irrigation, T2; deficit irrigation between the 40th and 70th days after full bloom, DAFB, T3; deficit irrigation between the 70th and 100th DAFB, T4; deficit irrigation between the 100th and 130th DAFB, T5; deficit irrigation between the 130th and 160th DAFB, T6). It was determined that short-term (30 days) deficit irrigation treatments during growing season resulted in decrease for vegetative development and yield. The apples that have both the highest marketable yield and the highest red colour density were obtained from T3 in deficit irrigation treatments. T3 treatments saved irrigation water according to T1 treatment in study years (12.4%, 14.4% and 15.2 respectively). For more efficient use of water resources in case of limited irrigation water, T3 treatment was found to be recommendable for apple growers because it not only saves water but also affects yield and fruit quality least.