ISHS Acta Horticulturae 664: IV International Symposium on Irrigation of Horticultural Crops
FRUIT YIELD AND TREE GROWTH FOR VARIOUS IRRIGATION METHODS AT PITESTIMARACINENI IN THE 'GOLDEN DELICIOUS' APPLE CULTIVAR |
| Authors: | N. Tanasescu, CR. Paltineanu |
| Keywords: | MM 106 rootstock, trunk cross-sectional area, crop evapotranspiration, irrigation depth, rooting depth |
| Abstract:
Knowledge of water uptake by fruit trees is of great importance in order to quantify irrigation water requirements (IWR) and maintain an optimal soil air-water regime, as well as to insure good growth and fruiting. Investigations were performed under the temperate climate conditions of Pitesti-Maracineni, Romania, with a mean annual temperature of 9.6˚C and rainfall 650 mm. The experiment was carried out on the Golden Delicious apple cultivar grafted on the MM 106 rootstock, using more than one irrigation method: sprinkler irrigation treatment (SI), micro-sprinkler irrigation (MI), and drip irrigation (DI), as well as a control, non-irrigated treatment (NI). The experiment was conducted over a seven-year period. Irrigation was used as a supplemental water source. Trees were planted 3.6 m between rows and spaced 1.5 m apart on the same row. Irrigation was needed, especially during the July through September period, but crop evapotranspiration generally differed among the four irrigation treatments studied. Micro-sprinkler and sprinkler treatments showed the highest fruit yield values that were statistically recorded over the life of the experiment. Fruit yield correlated positively to both irrigation depth during the entire growing season and crop evapotranspiration. Thus there was a relatively strong crop response to the supplemental irrigation application. Tree trunk cross-sectional area (TTCSA) was significantly different among some irrigation method treatments and was significantly and positively correlated to annual irrigation depth. Micro-sprinkler and drip irrigation induced a more efficient way of water application utilization in the Golden Delicious apple orchard investigated. This was why those two treatments were the most recommended to be extended in orchard farming. | |
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