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Effects of Irrigation Frequency on Yield and Quality Parameters in Apple c.v. ‘Gala, Galaxy’

Auswirkungen der Bewässerungshäufigkeit auf den Ertrag und auf Qualitätsparameter der Apfelsorte ‘Gala, Galaxy’

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Abstract

This study was conducted in 2007 and 2008 in order to determine the effects of irrigation frequency on the yield and quality parameters of dwarf trees of the apple cultivar ‘Gala, Galaxy’ in the first and second year of cultivation. Irrigation water was applied at 3‑, 5‑, 7‑, and 10-day intervals as much as the amount of water consumed from the field capacity. Statistical analysis revealed that the effects of irrigation frequency on yield were significant. Since the trees used in the experiment showed mainly vegetative growth, the effects of irrigation frequency on the fruit quality characteristics varied. Irrigation water amount was applied as 355.7–446.5 mm and 359.2–538.9 mm to the experimental treatments in 2007 and 2008, respectively. The evapotranspiration measured was in the range 400.7–491.5 mm in 2007 but in the range 440.2–600.5 mm in 2008, while the yields in the same years ranged from 1.54 to 2.84 t ha−1 and from 2.61 to 6.06 t ha−1. Water use efficiency varied between 2.40 and 4.80 t ha−1mm−1 in the first year of the experiment but between 3.45 and 7.08 t ha−1mm−1 in the second year. The I2 treatment, in which the highest yield and water use efficiency were recorded in both years of the experiment under the experimental conditions, was determined as the irrigation scheduling.

Zusammenfassung

Die Untersuchungen wurden in den Jahren 2007 und 2008 durchgeführt, um die Auswirkungen der Bewässerungshäufigkeit auf Ertrag und Qualitätsparameter von Bäumen der Apfelsorte ‘Gala, Galaxy’ im 1. und 2. Standjahr zu ermitteln. Die Bewässerung wurde in 3, 5, 7 und 10 Tage Intervallen durchgeführt, je nachdem wieviel Wasser der Feldkapazität verbraucht wurde. Statistische Analysen zeigten, dass es signifikante Effekte der Bewässerungshäufigkeit auf den Ertrag gibt. Da die im Versuch genutzten jungen Bäume sich noch überwiegend im vegetativen Wachstum befanden, variierten die Auswirkungen der Bewässerungshäufigkeit auf die Merkmale der Fruchtqualität. Während der experimentellen Behandlungen in den Jahren 2007 und 2008 wurden jeweils Bewässerungsmengen von 355,7–446,5 mm und 359,2–538,9 mm gegeben. Die gemessene Evapotranspiration lag im Jahre 2007 zwischen 400,7 und 491,5 mm und 2008 zwischen 440,2 und 600,5 mm, während die Erträge in den beiden Jahren bei 1,54 bis 2,84 t ha−1mm−1 und 2,61 bis 6,06 t ha−1mm−1 lagen. Die Effizienz der Wassernutzung variierte zwischen 2,40 und 4,80 t ha−1mm−1 im ersten Jahr und 3,45 und 7,08 t ha−1mm−1 im zweiten Jahr. Die I2-Variante, bei der, unter Versuchsbedingungen, die größte Erntemenge und Effizienz der Wassernutzung in den beiden Versuchsjahren verzeichnet wurde, wurde als geeignete Bewässerungsstrategie ermittelt.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Turkish Scientific and Technical Research Council (TUBITAK) for its financial support to the project of 105O538.

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Correspondence to Yusuf Ucar.

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Ucar, Y., Kadayıfcı, A., Aşkın, M.A. et al. Effects of Irrigation Frequency on Yield and Quality Parameters in Apple c.v. ‘Gala, Galaxy’. Erwerbs-Obstbau 58, 169–175 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10341-016-0277-7

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