English

Abstract

Drought is a highly important abiotic stress that affects crops around the world and especially under the Mediterranean climate. This study is focused on strawberry, an important species around the Mediterranean that is suitable for family-owned smallscale businesses. This study aimed to determine the effects of conventional deficit irrigation and fixed partial root drying techniques on the evapotranspiration (ET), yield and quality of Rubygem strawberry species. Strawberry seedlings were planted in the greenhouse in a double row at a planting distance of 30×30 cm. Irrigation was carried out by drip irrigation. The control - full irrigation was based on measurements taken from an A-Class Evaporation Pan. Three conventional deficit irrigation (DI80, DI60 and DI40) and four fixed partial root drying (FPRD100, FPRD80, and FPRD60 FPRD40) were examined. Irrigation water quantities were applied at the 100% (FPRD100/FULL), 80% (DI80 and FPRD80), 60% (DI60 and FPRD60) and 40% (DI40 and FPRD40) levels. The amount of irrigation water ranged between 199.17 and 452.92 mm. It was found that the various water levels affected the ET and the yield (Y). In general, as the amount of water decreased, the ET also decreased. The ET, Y, water use efficiency (WUE) and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) were significantly affected by irrigation treatments (LSD 5%). The yield values are ranked from high to low as FULL > FPRD100 > FPRD80 > DI80 > DI60 > FPRD60 > FPRD40 > DI40. As expected, WUE and IWUE values were higher under deficit irrigation levels i.e., DI80, DI60, DI40, FPRD80, FPRD60, and FPRD40. Fruit quality parameters (width, height and average weight) increased with the increase in the amount of applied irrigation water. In addition, fruit firmness values and total phenolic compounds were significantly affected by irrigation level. The results showed that different irrigation levels (100%, 80%, 60% and 40%) affected the yield and yield parameters of strawberry plants. In general, it has been found that, the yield and quality are negatively affected with increases in water deficit (DI40 and FPRD40 treatments). However, the results showed that the fixed partial root drying technique is superior to conventional deficit irrigation applications. As a result of the research, mainly FPRD80 and then DI80, DI60 and FPRD60 are recommended for strawberry cultivation, especially in arid and semiarid regions, depending on the availability of water