Managing irrigation of fruit trees using plant water status

Rashid Al-Yahyai

doi:10.4236/as.2012.31006

Abstract

Optimum growth and production of fruit crops is strongly linked to managing irrigation water. Various method of estimating tree water requirements have been utilized such as direct and indirect soil, water, and climatic measurements. Due to differences in fruit tree anatomical and morphological structures and their adaptation to excess and deficit soil water content, such estimates of irrigation water requirements may be more suitable for herbaceous plants but not as accurate for trees. Studies on temperate and tropical fruit trees, using apple (Malus domestica) and star-fruit (Averrhoa carambola), respectively, showed that tree water potential is highly correlated to soil water status. Irrigation based on climate data (ET) and monitoring of soil water resulted in no significant differences in soil or tree water status of orchard-grown fruit trees under temperate and subtropical climatic conditions. The results indicated the need for better understanding and utilization of tree physiological parameters for management of irrigation water of fruit crops. This will ultimately lead to achieving optimum yield and fruit quality while conserving water resources.

Highlights

Irrigation is a vital management practice in fruit production regions of the world, in arid and semi-arid climates
Results from this study showed that irrigation scheduling of apple and star-fruit based on climatic parameters (ET) and measurements of soil water content, respectively, did not affect stem water potential under field conditions
Soil water content and stem water potential (Ψs) of apple trees irrigated at 50% ET, 75% ET, and 100% ET did not significantly differ and no correlation between soil and tree water status was found

Summary

Introduction

Irrigation is a vital management practice in fruit production regions of the world, in arid and semi-arid climates. Despite the variations in the available water resources among fruit producing countries, the question of frequency of irrigation and amount of water applied to fruit crops is a common concern. Insufficient water supply may result in reduced tree growth, yield and fruit quality due to water stress. Unmanaged irrigation may lead to adverse environmental effects such as agrochemical leaching into groundwater aquifers, reduced water reservoir, and water and soil salinity. Optimizing water applications by scheduling irrigation to fruit orchards may increase water conservation, reduce production costs, and increase tree growth and yield. Irrigation scheduling is especially important in horticultural crops because net returns are normally higher than those of other crops [1]

Methods

Results

Conclusion