Yield, Water Use Efficiency and Physiological Characteristic of “Tommy Atkins” Mango under Partial Rootzone Drying Irrigation System

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the yield, water use efficiency and physiologic characteristics of “Tommy Atkins” mango under partial rootzone drying. The experiment was carried out in an orchard of mango in the irrigated perimeter of Ceraíma, BA. Five treatments and six repetitions were used with one tree per experimental plot: 01—Full Irrigation, 100% of ETc, 02—100% of ETc with frequency of alternance (FA) of 15 days, 03—80% ETc with FA of 15 days, 04—60% of ETc with FA of 15 days, 05—40% ETc with FA of 15 days. The treatments were conductedfrom the beginning of flowering to the harvest of mango in an orchard irrigated by drip. There was no significant reduction in productivity of “Tommy Atkins” mango under PRD up to 40% of ETc and PRD with 40% ETc resulted in greater water use efficiency. There was no significant difference among the averages of photosynthetically active radiation, Qleaf; leaf temperature, Tl; internal CO2 concentration, Ci; transpiration, E; stomatal conductance, gs; photosynthesis, A; carboxylation efficiency, A/Ci; quantum efficiency of photosynthesis, A/Qleaf and instantaneous water use efficiency, A/E between full irrigation and PRD with different water depth. The increase in leaf temperature causes reduction in A/Qleaf and A/E, however, it increases the transpiration. Increased gs results in higher rates of E, A and A/Ci. The use of the PRD with 40% of ETc causes no interference in gas exchange, maintains the yield and increases water use efficiency in “Tommy Atkins” mango tree.