Abstract
Scarce water resources mainly in arid and semi-arid areas have caused an increasing interest for applying irrigation protocols aiming to reduce water spends. The effects of regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) on the performance of apricot trees (Prunus armeniaca L. cv. “Búlida”) were assessed in Murcia (SE Spain), during three consecutive growing seasons (2008-2010). The hypothesis was that RDI would not restrict yield but increase fruit quality while saving water. Two irrigation treatments were established: i) control, irrigated to fully satisfy crop water requirements (100% ETc) and ii) RDI, that reduced the amount of applied water to: a) 40% of ETc at flowering and stage I of fruit growth; b) 60% of ETc during the stage II of fruit growth and c) 50% and 25% of ETc during the late postharvest period (from 60 days after harvest). Stem water potential, gas exchanges, trunk cross-sectional area (TCSA), fruit diameter, yield and fruit quality traits were determined. Vegetative growth was decreased by the use of RDI (12% less TCSA on average for the three years), whereas yield was unaffected. In addition, some qualitative characteristics of the fruits, such as the level of soluble solids, sweetness/acidity relation and fruit colour, were improved by the use of RDI. These results and average water savings of approximately 30%, lead us to conclude that RDI strategies are a possible solution for irrigation management in areas with water shortages, such as arid and semi-arid environments.
Highlights
Mediterranean regions are characterized by the shortage of water resources (Ruiz et al, 2015)
Researches about regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) strategies applied to apricot trees reported benefits such as higher values of total soluble solids, titratable acidity and hue angle in apricot fruits grown under RDI (Pérez-Pastor et al, 2009, 2014), these results came from experiments undertaken during less than three years and, they need to be confirmed
During 2010, no significant differences between treatments were detected, slightly lower soil water contents were measured in stage II of fruit development and early post-harvest stages (Fig. 3)
Summary
Mediterranean regions are characterized by the shortage of water resources (Ruiz et al, 2015). It is necessary to develop and implement techniques that optimize agricultural water use without affecting crop yields (Fereres & Soriano, 2007), being the regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) one of the most promising to attain this objective. This technique consists of applying water in quantities below those necessary to fully satisfy crop evapotranspiration (ETc) requirements during certain periods of the crop cycle when yield and crop quality are hardly affected, applying all the water. Researches about RDI strategies applied to apricot trees reported benefits such as higher values of total soluble solids, titratable acidity and hue angle in apricot fruits grown under RDI (Pérez-Pastor et al, 2009, 2014), these results came from experiments undertaken during less than three years and, they need to be confirmed
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