Abstract
Managing irrigation efficiently is paramount given the uncertainty in the future availability of water and rising demand for this resource. Scheduled irrigation significantly influences vegetative growth through improving crop physiology and nutrient uptake and use efficiency. Influence of different irrigation treatments (100%, 75%, and 50% volume of Class A pan evapotranspiration) applied at four different phenological stages (flowering and fruit set (C1), fruit growth stage (C2), pre-harvest stage (C3), and throughout the growing season (C4)) through drip along with a control (rainfed) on leaf physiology, nutrient content, and uptake through gene expression was studied on Super Chief Sandidge variety raised on M9T337 (5 and 6 years old) grown at a spacing of 1.5 × 3 m (2222 plants/ha) under high density condition of Kashmir Himalayan range of India. A comparison of data reveals that drip irrigation at 100% Crop evapotranspiration (ETc) increased leaf area by 60% compared to rainfed conditions. Leaf area significantly increased in plants irrigated throughout the growing season (C4) and during flowering and fruit set stage (C1). Irrigation amount likely does not have any influence on leaf development after the fruit growth stage. Stomatal opening and their size greatly vary from no irrigation to optimum irrigation in these plants. High density apple trees exposed to optimum irrigation levels (100% and 75% ET) had significantly higher concentrations of nutrients (N, P, and K) in their leaf tissues. The concentration of Ca and Mg content in leaf tissues are greatly influenced by the optimum supply of water during the early growth stages of apple growth. The availability of water significantly influences nutrient transporter gene expression and thus nutrient uptake by regulating such transporter genes. It is therefore observed that proper irrigation during C1 and stage C2 stage are the critical growth stages of apple for optimum leaf physiological activity and proper nutrient uptake.
Highlights
Apple, Malus domestica Borkh, is the commercially grown fruit crop across globe and third-largest produced fruit in India
The highest leaf area of 25.60 cm2 was recorded in 100% ETc which was 24 percent higher in comparison to rainfed conditions (Table 5, Figure 5)
The highest leaf area was observed in I1 C4 interaction (31.85 cm2 ) which was 40 percent higher compared to rainfed conditions followed by I2 C4 (31.06 cm2 ) (Figure 5)
Summary
Malus domestica Borkh, is the commercially grown fruit crop across globe and third-largest produced fruit in India. The cultivation of this crop has seen a drift from commercial cultivation to high-density plantation in recent decades. The orchardists across globe are shifting to high-density plantations due to high returns and better quality produce. These high-density orchards require better cultural practices and are more susceptible to water stress conditions. Such orchards cannot be irrigated with conventional flood irrigation and require scheduled irrigation through the drip.
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