Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center of Kermanshah

2 Islamic Azad University Science and Research Unit, Tehran

3 Razi University of Kermanshah

Abstract

Introduction: Since Iran is located in arid and semi-arid region of the world, so consumption and saving of water must be taking into account. Water is often a valuable natural resource, thus proper application methods - for increase water efficiency can be very important. Regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) is one of the most important methods to increase water use efficiency and fruit quality. Apple is one of the most important fruit trees from economical point of view. Studies showed that regulated deficit irrigation led to growth reduction in apple trees and sometimes fruit quality increased. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect deficit irrigation on vegetative growth and fruit quantity and quality of Golden delicious apple trees in Gahvareh region of Kermanshah province.
Materials and Methods: This experiment was conducted on 10 years old Golden delicious apple trees in a randomized complete block design with 5 irrigation treatments and three replications during 2006. Three apple trees assigned to each experimental unit. Irrigation treatments were: T1= early deficit irrigation (40% water requirement), T2= early deficit irrigation (60% water requirement), T3= late deficit irrigation (40% water requirement), T4=late deficit irrigation (60% water requirement), T5=control (C) (100% water requirement). Early deficit irrigation starts 55 days after full bloom (15th Jun) and continued 60 days (16th Aug), while late deficit irrigation starts 115 days after from full bloom (16th Aug) and continued 40 days near to harvesting time (23th Sept). Control trees were full irrigated based on water requirement, which calculated based on national water document of Iran and irrigation amount was calculated based on the following formulas: Q=0.0184.L.H3/2
Where Q is volumetric flow rate (liter/Second), L is parshall flume crown length (cm) and H is water height (cm). Irrigation time was calculated based on national water document of Iran and volumetric flow rate as this formula Q.t = di.a, where Q is volumetric flow rate (liter/Second), t is time based on second, di is net water requirement and a is irrigated area. To evaluate irrigation effects some vegetative (shoot growth and trunk cross sectional area); reproductive (fruit volume, fruit weight and yield) and quality (Total soluble solid, total sugar, nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium and calcium) traits were measured.
Results and Discussion: Results showed that deficit irrigation had no effect on trunk cross sectional area, but shoot growth was affected significantly by deficit irrigation by. So, regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) can be used to control excessive vegetative growth in apple trees. There were no significant differences of fruit volume and weight of trees under deficit irrigation than the control exception to secondary 40% treatment. Fruit yield did not have significant differences under early and late 60% treatment in compare to the control. Where yield reduction was only 4 and 8 % in late and early 60% deficit irrigation respectively in compare to full irrigated trees. Water deficit had positive effect on qualitative traits of apple fruit, So that total soluble solids (TSS) and total sugar concentration (TSC) of fruit were higher in trees subjected to deficit irrigation as compared to the control. Regulated deficit irrigation led to 7-18% and 1.8-15% increase in total soluble solid and total sugar content in compare to full irrigated trees. Relative water content (RWC) was significant based of the time of applying deficit irrigation. Deficit irrigation did not have significant effect on fruit minerals such as P and K in compare to the control, but N content had significant reduction in deficit irrigation treatments in compare to the control and Ca fruit content of control trees had significant different in compare to trees were subjected to early deficit irrigation (40% of water requirement).. RDI favored reproductive growth over vegetative growth by suppressing vegetative growth. Water saving in deficit irrigation was 41, 27, 18 and 12 percent in early 40%, 60% and late 40% and 60% of water requirement respectively. Therefore, regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) applied with good intensity and at the right time not only reduces the amount of water used but also increased the yield performance and some fruit qualitative properties. RDI can be used to control vegetative growth and improve yield efficiency of apple trees.
Conclusions: Regulated deficit irrigation is more effective for water saving with a higher WUE and not reduction of fruit quality rather than to contain excessive vegetative growth in apple trees. Therefore, RDI can be suggested for commercial use and can be adapted successfully for the regions in similar soil and climate conditions. In general water deficit irrigation can cause increases quality of fruit in the Golden Delicious apple trees. Therefore, it is recommended to apply 60% of the water requirement for this cultivar.

Keywords

1-Anon. 2008. Plant water requirement, cultivation pattern and irrigation efficiency. Iranian national water document. Jehad Agricultural Minstry.
2-Atkinson J.C., Policarpo M., Webster A.D. and Kuden A.M. 1999. Drought tolerance of apple rootstocks: production and partitioning of dry matter. Plant and Soil, 206: 223- 235.
3-Behboudian M.H. and Lawes G.S. 1994. Fruit quality in Nijisseiki Asian pear under deficit irrigation. Horticultural Science, 22: 393 – 400.
4-Behboudian M.H. and Mills T.M. 1997. Deficit irrigation in deciduous orchard. P. 105-131. In J. Janik (ed.) Horticultural Review, Vol. 21, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York.
5-Boland A.M., Mitchell P.D., Jerie P.H. and Goodwin I. 1993. The effect of regulated deficit irrigation on tree water use and growth of peach. Journal of Horticultural Science, 68(2): 261 – 274.
6-Brun C.A., Raese J.T. and Stahly E.A. 1985. Seasonal response of ‘Anjou’ pear trees to different irrigation regimes. II. Mineral composition of fruit and leaves, fruit disorder and fruit set. Journal of the American Society of Horticultural Science, 110:835-840.
7-Chalmers D.J. 1989. A physiological examination of regulated deficit irrigation. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Science, 23: 44- 48.
8-Chalmers D.J., Mitchell P.D. and Jerie P.H. 1985. The relation between irrigation growth and productivity of peach trees. Acta Horticulturae, 173: 283 – 288.
9-Domingo R., Ruiz- Sanchez M.C., Sanches-Blanco, M.J. and Torrecillas A. 1996. Water relation, growth and yield of Finolemon trees under regulated deficit irrigation. Irrigation Science, 16(3):115 – 123.
10-Ebel R.C., Proebsting E.L. and Evans G. 1995. Deficit irrigation to control vegetative growth in apple and monitoring fruit growth to schedule irrigation. HortScience, 30(6): 1229 – 1232.
11-Ginestar C. and Castel J.R. 1996. Responses of young Clementine citrus trees to water stress during different phonological periods. The Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology, 71(4): 551- 560.
12-Gold Hamer D.A. and Vivero M. 2000. Effect of preharvest irrigation cut off duration and post harvest water deprivation on almond tree performance. Irrigation Science, 19(3): 125 – 131.
13-Intrigliolo D.S. and Castel J.R. 2005. Effects of regulated deficit irrigation on growth and yield of young Japanese plum tree. The Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology, 80(2): 177- 182.
14-Irving D.E., and Drost J.H. 1987. Effects of water deficit on vegetative growth and fruit quality in Cox s Orange Pippin apple. The Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology, 62(4): 427 – 432.
15-Jones H.G., Lakso A.N. and Syvertsen J.P. 1985. Physiological control of water status in temperate and subtropical fruit tree, p. 301-344. In J. Janik (ed.) Horticultural Review, Vol. 7, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York.
16-Kramer P.J. 1983. Water deficits and plant growth. In: Water Relation of Plants, pp: 342 – 366.
17-Mannini P. and Zinoni F. 1993. The possibility of applying regulated deficit irrigation to peach orchards in the Emilia Romagna region. Acta Horticulturae, 335: 569- 573.
18-Mills T.M., Behboudian M.H. and Clothier B.E. 1996. Water relation growth and composition of Braeburn apple fruit under deficit irrigation. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science, 121(2): 286- 291.
19-Mills T.M., Behboudian M.H, Tan P.Y. and Clothier B.E. 1994. Plant water status and fruit quality in Braeburn apple. HortScience, 29(11): 1274- 1278.
20-Mills T.M., Clothier B.E. and Behboudian M.H. 1997. The water relations of Braeburn apple fruit grown under deficit irrigation.Acta Horticulturae, 446: 385- 392.
21-Monneweux P. and Belhassan E. 1996. The diversity of drought adaptation in the wide. Plant Growth regulation, 20: 85- 92.
22-Mpelasoka B.S., Behboudian M.H., Dixon J., Neal S.M. and Caspari H.W. 2000. Improvement of fruit quality and storage potential of Braeburn apple through deficit irrigation. The Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology, 75(5): 615- 621.
23-Mpelasoka B.S., Behboudian M.H. and Ganesh S. 2001. Fruit quality attributes and their interrelation ships of Braeburn apple in response to deficit irrigation and to crop load. Gartenbauwissenschaft, 66: 247- 253.
24-Nasr Z. and Michlia N.B. 2002. Deficit irrigation to reduce stalinizations in an apple orchard. Acta Horticulturae, 573: 283- 287.
25-Raese J.T. 1985. Nutrition practices to improve quality of “Anjou” pears discussed. Goodfruit Grower, 36:42-44.
26-Strabbioli G. 1992. The influence of regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) on the growth and productivity of peach trees. Acta Horticulturae, 315: 211- 217.
CAPTCHA Image