ISHS Acta Horticulturae 278: Symposium on Scheduling of Irrigation for Vegetable Crops under Field Condition
MIST IRRIGATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL AND ITS EFFECT ON ORANGE TREES |
| Authors: | V. Sardo, C. Germana |
| Abstract:
An experimental mist irrigation system for environmental control has been installed in a mature orange grove with the aim of reducing the peaks of temperature and of increasing the relative humidity. The system included an automatic programmer triggered by a thermostat to irrigate several times a day during the warmest period of the day; water was distributed by means of overhead and under-tree sprayers and the results were compared. The results so far collected show that the system is effective in modifying the environment, provided that the interval between the irrigations does not exceed one hour. Among the physiologic parameters under observation both transpiration and photosynthetic activity showed a steady increase under controlled conditions, while stomatal conductance decreased. Both the overhead and the under-tree spraying systems proved to be effective in environmental control, however the first brought about salt accumulation in leaves in spite of the low content of salt in irrigation water. Effects on fruit setting could not be detecting owing to the mild temperatures at setting time. No difference was found in the quality of fruits. | |
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