Abstract
Abstract The use of water potential indicators in the plant has been adopted in irrigation management, in recent years, since it is accepted that the plant is the best indicator of its own water status. The objective of this study was to verify the relationship between water potential in peach tree branches and the evaporative demand of the atmosphere and the water availability in two textural classes of an Aquertic Hapludalf soil, aiming to adopt irrigation management strategies based on the water potential in the plant. Research was carried out in a commercial peach orchard, cv. Esmeralda, in the municipality of Morro Redondo-Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. Four peach tree rows were evaluated, being two irrigated and two non irrigated. The irrigation management was based on the replacement of the potential crop evapotranspiration. It was concluded that the water potential in the peach tree branch is positively related with the evaporative demand of the atmosphere and negatively related with soil water storage. Future studies should adopt irrigation management strategies for peach trees based on the water potential mainly for the irrigation management of post-harvest peach trees.
Highlights
The use of water potential indicators in the plant has been adopted in irrigation management during the last years, since it is accepted that the plant is the best indicator of its own water status (CONEJERO et al, 2011)
The measured soil water content values (q) in the 0-0.30 m layer were higher in the Sandy Clay Loam class without irrigation (Figure 1D), when compared to those observed in the Sandy Loam class without irrigation as well (Figure 1B)
Water supplementation by irrigation maintained the water potential in the branch (Yw) around -12 bar (-1.2 MPa) for plant cultivated in the Sandy Loam textural class with irrigation throughout the studied period (Figure 1A), which is lower than that indicated by Abrisqueta et al (2012, 2015), who mentioned that Yw values approximately of -10 bar may correspond to an indication of high water stress
Summary
The fruit industry in Brazil, has been one of the agricultural activities that has booming the country’s economic scenario in recent years, due to its high profitability in small areas, playing an important role in generating income and employment in the rural area mainly in small properties.Temperate fruits have relevant socioeconomic importance in several regions of Brazil, especially in the states of Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Paraná, São Paulo, Minas Gerais, either for fresh consumption, processing industries or agrotourism (FACHINELLO et al, 2011).In Rio Grande do Sul (RS), the peach growing activity is increasing, with new areas being incorporated, as an economic and social alternative for counties that historically had no tradition in the peach tree cultivation (MADAIL, 2014).Currently in the State, about 129 thousand tons are harvested in 12,582 hectares, with an average yield of 10.3 tons (IBGE, 2017), being Pelotas-RS and Canguçu-RS the municipalities with the largest cultivated areas, 3,000 ha and 2,600 ha, respectively. Temperate fruits have relevant socioeconomic importance in several regions of Brazil, especially in the states of Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Paraná, São Paulo, Minas Gerais, either for fresh consumption, processing industries or agrotourism (FACHINELLO et al, 2011). The average yields of 7 Mg ha-1, are below the average yield recorded for state and other municipalities, such as Bento Gonçalves-RS, which produces, on average, 15 Mg ha-1 (MADAIL, 2014) In this context, several aspects related to the orchard production system still deserve attention, especially the possible need for irrigation as well as the response to water excess or deficit, during the peach cycle
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