Abstract
Fruit tree production is challenged by climate change, which is characterized by heat waves, warmer winters, increased storms, and recurrent droughts. The technology of top netting may provide a partial solution, as it alleviates climatic effects by microclimate manipulation. The tree physiological performance is improved under the nets, with an increased productivity and quality. The application of photoselective nets, which also alter the light spectrum, may result in additional horticultural improvements. We present the results of a 5-year experimental study on Valencia oranges, examining three nets: red, pearl, and transparent. Each net was tested at three fertigation conditions: a field standard (100%, I100) and two reduced fertigation regimes, which were 80% (I80) and 60% (I60) of the standard. The average multi-annual yield under the red and pearl nets with I100 and I80 and transparent net with I100 was significantly higher than that of the control trees. While the multi-annual yield increase under the red net I80 was due to the increase in the fruit number, in other treatments, the effect was mostly due to induction in the individual fruit weight. The data presented here show that an increased productivity of orange trees grown under photoselective nets, particularly the red net, with its specific spectral properties, was achieved with a considerable water-saving effect.
Highlights
Regional weather instability is a defining characteristic of global climate change and is associated, but not limited to, the following: alterations in winter and summer temperatures, heat waves, increased storm strength and frequencies, and both drought or increased severe weather events
While unfavorable outcomes of hotter summers and heat waves could be partially mitigated by sufficient irrigation, warmer winters threaten fruit tree productivity; flowering induction in many subtropical trees and dormancy depth and release in deciduous trees are dependent on the accumulation of cold hours [1]
The study was performed in a 25-year old commercial orchard of Valencia oranges
Summary
Regional weather instability is a defining characteristic of global climate change and is associated, but not limited to, the following: alterations in winter and summer temperatures, heat waves, increased storm strength and frequencies, and both drought or increased severe weather events This climatic variance places greater importance on the need to identify methods to protect and maximize crop production. Three nets were included, which were a customized red with lower shading effect, pearl, and non-photoselective transparent, all previously shown to benefit other fruit trees [23]. Among the different netting types, the combination of red nets and a 20% reduced fertigation regime resulted in the highest number of fruits per tree on a multi-annual basis
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