Articles
WATERING CHESTNUTS ORCHARDS IN NORTHEAST PORTUGAL- PRELIMINARY STUDY
Article number
1043_16
Pages
129 – 133
Language
English
Abstract
Portugal is one of the most important chestnut world producers with more than 30.000 tons, Trás-os-Montes being the main Portuguese region where almost 85% of the chestnuts are produced.
In Portugal, the project Regcast has started experimental studies, which aim to give guidelines to the producers for chestnuts water management based on real plant water needs.
Three treatments like non-irrigated; deficit irrigated and fully irrigated were carried from June to October 2013 on a 15 years old chestnut orchard.
Preliminary results suggest that there are no significant differences between treatments for predawn leaf water potential (ranged from -0,2 to -0,5 MPa), for canopy air temperature and for photosynthetic rate and transpiration rate at 9am.
Although, at midday, there are significant differences for leaf water potential, photosynthetic rate and transpiration rate.
These three parameters are higher for irrigated treatments, with significant difference for full-irrigated treatment comparing with non-irrigated treatment.
Soil moisture results show significant differences between treatments in the more superficial layers (0-40 cm). Predawn leaf water potential results indicate the importance of deep roots in extracting water during the night, but the midday leaf water potentials suggest the true importance of the upper root in water absorption during daylight.
The yield, fruit size and fruit quality must be analysed in order to draw more conclusions.
In Portugal, the project Regcast has started experimental studies, which aim to give guidelines to the producers for chestnuts water management based on real plant water needs.
Three treatments like non-irrigated; deficit irrigated and fully irrigated were carried from June to October 2013 on a 15 years old chestnut orchard.
Preliminary results suggest that there are no significant differences between treatments for predawn leaf water potential (ranged from -0,2 to -0,5 MPa), for canopy air temperature and for photosynthetic rate and transpiration rate at 9am.
Although, at midday, there are significant differences for leaf water potential, photosynthetic rate and transpiration rate.
These three parameters are higher for irrigated treatments, with significant difference for full-irrigated treatment comparing with non-irrigated treatment.
Soil moisture results show significant differences between treatments in the more superficial layers (0-40 cm). Predawn leaf water potential results indicate the importance of deep roots in extracting water during the night, but the midday leaf water potentials suggest the true importance of the upper root in water absorption during daylight.
The yield, fruit size and fruit quality must be analysed in order to draw more conclusions.
Publication
Authors
M. Mota, T. Pinto, T. Marques, A. Borges, F. Raimundo, V. Veiga, J. Caço, A. Martins, J. Gomes-Laranjo
Keywords
chestnut, irrigation, photosynthetic productivity, soil moisture status, water potential
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