Abstract
During four growing seasons, 10-year-old apricot trees (Prunus armeniaca L., cv. ‘Búlida’) were submitted to three different drip irrigation regimes: (1) a control treatment, irrigated at 100% of seasonal crop evapotranspiration (ETc), (2) a continuous deficit irrigation (DI) treatment, irrigated at 50% of the control treatment, and (3) a regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) treatment, irrigated at 100% of ETc during the critical periods, which correspond to stage III of fruit growth and 2 months after harvest (early postharvest), and at 25% of ETc during the rest of the non-critical periods in the first two growing seasons and at 40% of ETc in the third and fourth. Soil–plant–water relation parameters were sensitive to the water deficits applied, which caused reductions in leaf and soil water potentials. The longer and severer deficits of the RDI treatment decreased fruit yield in the first two seasons. The RDI treatment pointed to two threshold values that defined the level at which both plant growth and yield were negatively affected with respect to the control treatment: (1) a predawn leaf water potential of around −0.5 MPa during the critical periods, and (2) a 22% drop in irrigation water. The total yield obtained in the DI treatment was significantly reduced in all the years studied due to the lower number of fruits per tree. No changes in the physical characteristics of fruits were observed at harvest. RDI can be considered a useful strategy in semiarid areas with limited water resources.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abrisqueta JM, Ruiz A, Franco JA (2001) Water balance of apricot trees (Prunus armeniaca L. cv. Búlida) under drip irrigation. Agric Water Manage 50:211–227
Abrisqueta JM, Plana V, Mounzer OH, Mendez J, Ruiz-Sánchez MC (2007) Effects of soil tillage on runoff generation in a Mediterranean apricot orchard. Agric Water Manage 93:11–18
Ameglio T, Archer P, Cohen M, Valancogne C, Daudet FA, Dayau S, Cruiziat P (1999) Significance and limits in the use of predawn leaf water potential for tree irrigation. Plant Soil 207:155–167
Anuario Estadístico de la Región de Murcia (2006) Tomo I. Datos Regionales. 5.1. Agricultura, pp 17–33
Ayers RS, Westcot DW (1987) La calidad del agua en la agricultura. Estudio FAO riego y drenaje, paper no. 29 Rev. 1, Roma, pp 174
Boland AM, Mitchell PD, Jerie PH (1993) Effect of saline water combined with restricted irrigation on peach tree growth and water use. Aust J Agric Res 44:799–816
Castel JR, Buj A (1990) Response of Salustiana oranges to high frequency deficit irrigation. Irrig Sci 11:121–127
Chalmers DJ (1989) A physiological examination of regulated deficit irrigation. NZ J Agric Sci 23:44–48
Domingo R, Ruiz-Sánchez MC, Sánchez-Blanco MJ, Torrecillas A (1996) Water relations, growth and yield of Fino lemon trees under regulated deficit irrigation. Irrig Sci 16:115–123
Doorenbos J, Pruitt WO (1977) Crop water requirements. FAO irrigation and drainage, paper no. 24, Rome, pp 144
Ebel RC, Proebsting EL, Evans RG (1995) Deficit irrigation to control vegetative growth in apple and monitoring fruit growth to schedule irrigation. HortScience 30:1229–1232
Egea J (2000) El albaricoquero: elección varietal y problemas de cultivo. Frut Prof 109:16–19
Fereres E, Goldhamer DA (1990) Deciduous fruit and nut trees. In: Steward BA, Nielsen DR (eds) Irrigation of agricultural crops. agronomy monograph no. 30. Published by ASA, CSSA y SSSA, Madison, pp 987–1017
Fereres E, Pruitt WO, Beutel JA, Henderson DW, Holzapfel E, Schulbach H, Uriu K (1981) Evapotranspiration and drip irrigation scheduling. In: Drip irrigation management. University of California, Division of Agricultural Science, Davis, pp 8–13
Gelly M, Recasens I, Girona J, Mata M, Arbones A, Rufat J, Marsal J (2004) Effects of stage II and postharvest deficit irrigation on peach quality during maturation and after cold storage. J Sci Food Agric 84:561–568
Girona J, Marsal J (1995) Estrategias de RDC en almendro. In: Zapata M, Segura P (eds) Riego Deficitario Controlado. Colección Cuadernos VALUE I. UE, Mundi Prensa, pp 98–118
Girona J, Mata M, Goldhamer DA, Johnson RS, DeJong TM (1993) Patterns of soil and tree water status and leaf functioning during regulated deficit irrigation scheduling in peach. J Am Soc Hortic Sci 118:580–586
Girona J, Mata M, Arbonés A, Alegre S, Rufat J, Marsal J (2003) Peach tree response to single and combined regulated deficit irrigation regimes under shallow soils. J Am Soc Hortic Sci 128:432–440
Girona J, Mata M, Marsal J (2005) Regulated deficit irrigation during the kernel-filling period and optimal irrigation rates in almond. Agric Water Manage 75:152–167
Goldhamer DA (1989) Drought irrigation strategies for deciduous orchards. Cooperative extensión. University of California, Division of agricultural and natural resources. Publication no. 21453, pp 15
Goldhamer DA (1997) Regulated deficit irrigation of fruit and nut trees. Int Water Irrig Rev 17:14–19
Goldhamer DA, Viveros M, Salinas M (2006) Regulated deficit irrigation in almonds: effects of variations in applied water and stress timing on yield and yield components. Irrig Sci 24:101–114
González-Altozano P, Castel JR (1999) Regulated deficit irrigation in ‘Clementina de Nules’ citrus trees I. Yield and fruit quality effects. J Hortic Sci Biotech 74:706–713
González-Altozano P, Castel JR (2000) Regulated deficit irrigation in ‘Clementina de Nules’ citrus trees II. Vegetative growth. J Hortic Sci Biotech 75:388–392
Houghton JT, Meiro-Filho LG, Callander BA, Harris N, Kattenburg A, Maskell K (1995) Climate change. The science of climate change. Second assessment report of the intergovernmental panel on global change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
Hsiao TC (1990) Measurements of plants water stress. In: Steward BA, Nielsen DR (eds) Irrigation of agricultural crops. Agronomy monograph No 30. Published by ASA, CSSA y SSSA, Madison, pp 243–279
Irving DJ, Drost JH (1987) Effects of water deficit on vegetative growth, fruit growth and fruit quality in Cox’s orange Pippin apple. J Hortic Sci 62:427–432
Kilili W, Behboudian MH, Mill TM (1996) Postharvest performance of “Braebum” apples in relation to withholding of irrigation at different stages of the growing season. J Hortic Sci 71:693–701
Mansfield TA, Davies WJ (1981) Stomata and stomatal mechanisms. In: Paleg LG, Aspinall D (eds) The physiology and biochemistry of drought resistance in plants. Academic Press, New York, pp 315–346
MAPA (2005) Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación, Anuario de Estadística Agraria. http://www.mapa.es
Mitchell PD, Chalmers DJ (1982) The effect of reduced water supply on peach tree growth and yields. J Am Soc Hortic Sci 107:853–856
Mitchell PD, Jerie PH, Chalmers DJ (1984) The effects of regulated water deficits on pear tree growth, flowering, fruit growth and yield. J Am Soc Hortic Sci 109:604–606
Naor A (2006) Irrigation scheduling and evaluation of tree water status in deciduous orchards. Hortic Rev 32:111–116
Naor A, Wample RL (1994) Gas exchange and water relations of field-grown concord (Vitis labrusca) grapevines. Am J Enol Vitic 45:333–337
Natali S, Xiloyannis C, Pezzarossa B (1985) Relationship between soil water content, leaf water potential and fruit growth during different fruit growing phases on peach trees. Acta Hortic 171:331–340
Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) (2000) Commission regulation (EC) no 851/2000 of 27 April 2000 laying down the marketing standard for apricots, vol L103, pp 22–26
Pereira JS, Tenhunen JD, Lange OL, Beyschalag W, Meyer A, David MM (1986) Seasonal and diurnal patterns in leaf gas exchange of Eucalyptus globulus trees growing in Portugal. Can J For Res 16:177–184
Pérez-Pastor A, Ruiz-Sánchez MC, Domingo R, Torrecillas A (2004) Growth and phenological stages of ‘Búlida’ apricot trees in south–east Spain. Agronomie 24:93–100
Pérez-Pastor A, Ruiz-Sánchez MC, Martínez JA, Nortes P, Artés F, Domingo R (2007) Effect of deficit irrigation on apricot fruit quality at harvest and during storage. J Sci Food Agric 87:2409–2415
Pogue WR, Pooley SG (1985) Tensiometric management of soil water. In: Drip trickle irrigation in action. Proceedings of third international drip/trickle irrigation congress. American society of agricultural engineers. Michigan, pp 761–766
Remorini D, Massai R (2003) Comparison of water status indicators for young peach trees. Irrig Sci 22:39–46
Romero P, Botía P, García F (2004) Effects of regulated deficit irrigation under subsurface drip irrigation conditions on water relations of mature almond trees. Plant Soil 260:155–168
Ruiz D, Campoy JA, Egea J (2006) Chilling requirements of apricot varieties. Acta Hortic 717:67–70
Ruiz-Sánchez MC, Egea J, Galego R, Torrecillas A (1999) Floral biology of ‘Búlida’ apricot trees subjected to postharvest drought stress. Ann Appl Biol 135:523–528
Ruiz-Sánchez MC, Domingo R, Torrecillas A, Pérez-Pastor A (2000) Water stress preconditioning to improve drought resistance in young apricot plants. Plant Sci 156:245–251
Ruiz-Sánchez MC, Domingo R, Pérez-Pastor A (2007) Daily variations in water relations of apricot trees under different irrigation conditions. Biol Plant 51:735–740
Sánchez-Blanco MJ, Torrecillas A, León A, Del Amor F (1989) The effect of different irrigation treatments on yield and quality of Verna lemon. Plant Soil 120:299–302
Schulze ED, Lange OL, Buschbom H, Kappen L, Evenari M (1972) Stomatal responses to changes in humidity in plants growing in the desert. Planta 108:259–270
SPPS Inc (1996) SPSS professional statistics 14 update. Chicago, pp 166
Tenhunen JD, Lange OL, Jahner D (1982) The control by atmospheric factors and water stress of midday stomatal closure in Arbutus unedo growing in a natural macchia. Oecologia 55:165–169
Torrecillas A, Ruiz-Sánchez MC, Del Amor F, León A (1988) Seasonal variations on water relations of Amygdalus communis L under drip irrigated and non irrigated conditions. Plant Soil 106:215–220
Torrecillas A, Alarcón JJ, Domingo R, Planes J, Sánchez-Blanco MJ (1996) Strategies for drought resistance in leaves of two almond cultivars. Plant Sci 118:135–143
Torrecillas A, Galego R, Pérez-Pastor A, Ruiz-Sánchez MC (1999) Gas exchange and water relations of young apricot plants under drought conditions. J Agric Sci 132:445–452
Torrecillas A, Domingo R, Galego R, Ruiz-Sánchez MC (2000) Apricot tree response to withholding irrigation at different phenological periods. Sci Hortic 85:201–215
Turner NC, Schulze ED, Gollan T (1985) The responses of stomatal and leaf gas exchange to vapour pressure deficits and soil water content II. In the mesophytic herbaceous species Helianthus annuus. Oecologia 65:348–355
Uriu K (1964) Effect of post-harvest soil moisture depletion on subsequent yield of apricot. Proc Am Soc Hortic Sci 84:93–97
Uriu K, Martin PE, Hagan RM (1970) Radial trunk growth of almonds as affected by soil water and crop density. J Am Soc Hortic Sci 95:166–169
Westwood MN (1993) Temperate-zone pomology physiology and culture, 3rd edn. Timber Press, Portland, p 523
Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful to M. García for their technical assistance. Thanks are due to two anonymous reviewers for their comments for improving the manuscript. This research was financially supported by the Spanish CICYT (AMB95-0071 and HID96-1342-C04-03) grants to the authors.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Communicated by S. Ortega-Farias.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Pérez-Pastor, A., Domingo, R., Torrecillas, A. et al. Response of apricot trees to deficit irrigation strategies. Irrig Sci 27, 231–242 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-008-0136-x
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-008-0136-x