Effects of Different Deficit Irrigation Strategies on Yield, Fruit Quality and Some Parameters: ‘Braeburn’ Apple Cultivar

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the effects of deficit irrigation applied in different periods to dwarf rootstock apple trees (cv. 'Braeburn')on vegetative development, yield, fruit quality and marketable yield for three years (2010)(2011)(2012). There were six different treatments (none deficit irrigation, T 1 ; continuous deficit irrigation, T 2 ; deficit irrigation between the 40 th and 70 th days after full bloom, DAFB, T 3 ; deficit irrigation between the 70 th and 100 th DAFB, T 4 ; deficit irrigation between the 100 th and 130 th DAFB, T 5 ; deficit irrigation between the 130 th and 160 th DAFB, T 6 ). It was determined that short-term (30 days) deficit irrigation treatments during growing season resulted in decrease for vegetative development and yield. The apples that have both the highest marketable yield and the highest red colour density were obtained from T 3 in deficit irrigation treatments. T 3 treatments saved irrigation water according to T 1 treatment in study years (12.4%, 14.4% and 15.2 respectively). For more efficient use of water resources in case of limited irrigation water, T 3 treatment was found to be recommendable for apple growers because it not only saves water but also affects yield and fruit quality least.

Effect of Periodic Deficit Irrigation at Different Fruit Growth Stages on Yield and Fruit Quality of "Anna" Apple Trees.

“…Among periodic irrigation deficit treatments, forasmuch T 7 (irrigation at 50% of control from 80 days after full bloom until harvesting time -stage III) had the highest fruit firmness, T 3 treatment (irrigation at 75% of control from 40 to 80 days after full bloom -stage II) gave the lowest values. Similarly, the shortage of irrigation water treatments increased fruit firmness, as previously decided by other authors (Zaliha and Singh, 2009 a;Küçükyumuk et al, 2013). Inverse linear relationships were determined between fruit size and fruit firmness, when fruit size increased fruit firmness decreased, this is due to higher cellular density (Ebel and Proebsting, 1993), so that when adjusted firmness was calculated to remove the effect of size, there were no significant differences in firmness between irrigation treatments.…”

“…Stage ІІІ (cell enlargement): in this stage the size of the fruit increases rapidly, shoots and roots growth is slow and bud formation for the following season ' begins, irrigation is critical at this stage and soil moisture should be readily available (Boland et al, 2002 andAtay, 2007). Accordingly, the influence of reduction of irrigation at the period from 40 to 80 days after full bloom (stage ІІ) was less negatively on yield and fruit quality than the other two periods (stage І and stage ІІІ) (Küçükyumuk et al, 2013). In addition, the impact of water shortage on fruit set in stage І-had a negative effect on the yield.…”

“…Decreased mentioned fruit measurements were different based on the level of deficit irrigation water and periodic irrigation treatments. O'Connel and Goodwin (2007), Zaliha and Singh (2009b) and Küçükyumuk et al, (2013) on apple, they reported that fruit diameter decreased in irrigation deficit applications compared to none irrigation deficit. The same trend was observed on fruit length and fruit weight.…”

“…Generally, the values of productivity of irrigation water (PIW) can be descended in order T 6 > T 3 > T 4 >control> T 7 > T 2 > T 5 in the first season and T 6 > T 3 > T 4 > T 7 > control > T 2 > T 5 in the second one, this means that, under deficit irrigation conditions in the stage ІІ(40 to 80 days after full bloom), the values of PIW increased comparing with conventional irrigation (control 100%), meanwhile, irrigation deficit conditions at stage І recorded the lowest values. Increasing productivity of irrigation water under water stress, especially, in stage ІІ may be due to the slowing of fruit growth and decreasing the amount of water consumptive use in this stage (Küçükyumuk et al, 2013). Many studies such as Chalmers et al, 1981;Girona, 1997 andCheng et al, 2012 reported that regulated irrigation deficit technique is only applied during periods in which the fruit growth is less sensitive to water shortage is an important water-saving technique and increasing productivity of irrigation water.…”

Impact of applied irrigation regime during specified phenological stages on cropping and its' attributes of "Le-conte" pear

“…These results are in harmony with Ali (2006) on peach, Kandil and El-Feky (2006) on apricot and Mikhael and Mady (2007) and Küçükyumuk et al (2013) on apple fruit. The increase in fruit firmness of stressed trees could be an artifact of fruit size decreases as a direct impact of irrigation deficit.…”