Influence of Irrigation Frequency on Radicchio (Cichorium Intybus L.) Yield

Abstract

Red chicory (radicchio) plants produce leafy heads that are of great commercial interest and they require a proper irrigation technique to achieve satisfactory productivity. The use of mini-sprinklers with high-frequency irrigation schedules may increase radicchio productivity, provide better growing conditions due to timely intervention, and save water, but so far little research has been carried out on this topic. This experiment aims at evaluating the effect of two mini-sprinkler irrigation schedules (high- and low-frequency) on radicchio yield and growing conditions over a 5-year cultivation period. Marketable radicchio head production was on average 12% greater with the high-frequency schedule (26.5 t ha−1) than with the low-frequency schedule (23.6 t ha−1), mainly due to greater head weight. The number of underweight, pre-flowering, rotten, and missing plants was significantly different between the two schedules when these variables were considered separately, but the overall number of marketable plants was greater in the high-frequency schedule during certain years. In general, the high-frequency schedule permitted to increase both radicchio yield and to reduce irrigation water use on average by 14% (−24 mm in volume), improving the irrigation water productivity by 19% (from 0.18 t mm−1 of the low-frequency schedule to 0.22 t mm−1 of the high-frequency schedule). Reducing the irrigation interval permits a timely adaptation to the weather course and improves radicchio growing conditions, presenting itself as a valid strategy that could be adopted by the farmers, upon appropriate consideration of energy and management costs.

Significant Accumulation of Iodine and Selenium in Chicory (Cichorium intybus L. var. foliosum Hegi) Leaves after Foliar Spraying

“…The potential photochemical efficiency of photosystem II was similar in the control and treated groups and was close to the theoretical maximum (0.83) [ 40 ]. This indicates that the plants were in good condition, which was also confirmed by the high yields here compared to those in other studies, i.e., 30 t ha −1 [ 41 , 42 ]. As there were no significant differences between the combinations in terms of the dry matter, yield, and photochemical efficiency of photosystem II, this shows that the application of I, Se and their combination did not have any negative impacts on these chicory plants.…”

Smart Irrigation Systems: Overview

“…The quantity of water required for crop irrigation and refill the root region can be used almost uniformly at a reasonable rate, the leakage rate of the soil [64]. Many crops can be planted under the sprinkler irrigation method, such as vegetables like Onion, Potato, Carrot, Garlic, Lettuce, and others; spices like cardamom and pepper; flowers like jasmine and carnation; oilseeds like sunflower, groundnut and safflower; and fibres like Cotton and Sisal [65]. Sprinkler irrigation is appropriate for different types of soil except for heavy clay [3].…”