Articles
Adjusting irrigation frequency and timing can affect fruit quality in pear
Article number
1403_33
Pages
251 – 258
Language
English
Abstract
Irrigation is essential for the production of high-quality pears in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) of the United States.
PNW pear orchards are distributed among varying soil types, topographies, and environments.
Older, low-density pear orchards with root systems that extend deep into the soil profile combined with older irrigation systems with uneven distribution can create problems of over watering or under watering within, or between blocks.
With this project, we sought to identify water management factors contributing to poor sizing or losses due to cork spot in PNW orchards.
We conducted a three-year research experiment looking at the timing and frequency of irrigation in a ‘Anjou’ orchard.
Stem water potential varied strongly by soil volumetric water content and by atmospheric water demand.
We found that periodic or mild water limitations did not substantially affect fruit quality.
However, late summer water deficits promoted higher cork spot and a trend toward reduced firmness after two months of storage and 7 days of ripening at room temperature.
PNW pear orchards are distributed among varying soil types, topographies, and environments.
Older, low-density pear orchards with root systems that extend deep into the soil profile combined with older irrigation systems with uneven distribution can create problems of over watering or under watering within, or between blocks.
With this project, we sought to identify water management factors contributing to poor sizing or losses due to cork spot in PNW orchards.
We conducted a three-year research experiment looking at the timing and frequency of irrigation in a ‘Anjou’ orchard.
Stem water potential varied strongly by soil volumetric water content and by atmospheric water demand.
We found that periodic or mild water limitations did not substantially affect fruit quality.
However, late summer water deficits promoted higher cork spot and a trend toward reduced firmness after two months of storage and 7 days of ripening at room temperature.
Publication
Authors
L. Kalcsits, V. Blanco, R.T. Peters, S.T. DuPont
Keywords
irrigation, stem water potential, fruit quality, ‘Anjou’
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