Soil water distribution and extraction by 'Tommy Atkins' mango(Mangifera indica L.) trees under different irrigation regimes

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the water distribution and extraction by mango variety 'Tommy Atkins' under different irrigation regimes. The treatments were: 1-Irrigation supplying 100% of ETc from flowering to fruit harvest; 2-50% of ETc from beginning of flowering to the beginning of the expansion of fruit and 100% of ETc to physiological maturity; 3-100% ETc from the onset of flowering to the beginning of fruit growth, 50% from the beginning of expansion to the start of physiological maturation and 100% during physiological maturation of the fruit; 4-100% ETc from the onset of flowering to the expansion of the fruit and 50% during physiological maturation; 5-Without irrigation. The soil water content was monitored using TDR between the end of phase I and the beginning of Phase III. The irrigation regimes caused different profiles of distribution and extraction of water through the mango tree. The extraction of water regardless of the treatment is primarily a within a distance less than 1.50 m from the plant and the first 0.50 m depth.