Effects of deficit irrigation treatments on yield and plant growth of young apricot trees

OpenAlex İngilizce

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of deficit irrigation on yield and tree growth of young apricot trees ( Prunus armeniaca L. cv. Ninfa) during three growing seasons with three irrigation intervals (7, 14 and 21 days) and five irrigation levels based on reduction coefficients (K cp ) of class A pan evaporation (0.0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.00). Growth and yield variables such as trunk diameter, mean branch length, volume of tree, total number of fruit, mean fruit weight, total fruit yields of trees, evapotranspiration and water use efficiencies were determined. While the irrigation interval treatments had significant effects on trunk diameters and branch lengths of the trees, the irrigation level treatments significantly affected all the tree growth variables. Variation in irrigation level also affected yield, with yield and fruit size increasing as irrigation increased up to at least 0.75 of pan evaporation. The treatment with 25% water deficit and a 14‐day irrigation interval is suggested as the most suitable irrigation strategy for young apricot trees under a Mediterranean climate.