Articles
Combined effect of water deficit and shading on lime tree water status, yield and fruit quality
Article number
1409_40
Pages
305 – 314
Language
English
Abstract
Deficit irrigation and cropping system affect water relations and other agronomic traits such as yield and fruit quality.
The objective of this study was to test the combined effect of irrigation treatment and cropping system in ‘Bearss’ lime trees growing in a Mediterranean environment.
For this purpose, two irrigation treatments were applied: control (full irrigated, automatically managed by soil water content sensors) and deficit (withholding irrigation during the stage II of fruit growth (June to October)), both subjected to open-field and shade netting conditions.
Plant water status was assessed by discrete measures of stem water potential (Ψstem), leaf gas exchange (stomatal conductance, gs, and net photosynthesis, Pn), and continuous records of canopy temperature (Tc). Also canopy-air temperature difference (Tc-Ta) was calculated.
At two picking dates, yield and fruit quality were controlled.
The results showed that soil water deficit induced an earlier decrease in Ψstem, gs and Pn values in open-field than in shaded conditions.
Tc-Ta showed the current lime tree water status, with lower values under netting and higher values in deficit irrigated treatments.
Higher yield was obtained in shaded than in open-field conditions.
Yield decreased because of the water deficit in both cropping systems, however, a higher reduction was noted in open-field than in shaded conditions.
In both irrigation treatments the shaded trees showed higher fruit mass and equatorial diameter than those cultivated in open-field conditions.
However, no statistically significant differences between treatments appeared in peel thickness (harvest I) and titratable acidity values.
The soil water deficit increased total soluble solids and decreased juice content, especially in open-field trees.
In conclusion, shading lime trees allowed to be more resilient for soil water deficits, due to better physiological performance, inducing higher yield and better external fruit quality traits.
The objective of this study was to test the combined effect of irrigation treatment and cropping system in ‘Bearss’ lime trees growing in a Mediterranean environment.
For this purpose, two irrigation treatments were applied: control (full irrigated, automatically managed by soil water content sensors) and deficit (withholding irrigation during the stage II of fruit growth (June to October)), both subjected to open-field and shade netting conditions.
Plant water status was assessed by discrete measures of stem water potential (Ψstem), leaf gas exchange (stomatal conductance, gs, and net photosynthesis, Pn), and continuous records of canopy temperature (Tc). Also canopy-air temperature difference (Tc-Ta) was calculated.
At two picking dates, yield and fruit quality were controlled.
The results showed that soil water deficit induced an earlier decrease in Ψstem, gs and Pn values in open-field than in shaded conditions.
Tc-Ta showed the current lime tree water status, with lower values under netting and higher values in deficit irrigated treatments.
Higher yield was obtained in shaded than in open-field conditions.
Yield decreased because of the water deficit in both cropping systems, however, a higher reduction was noted in open-field than in shaded conditions.
In both irrigation treatments the shaded trees showed higher fruit mass and equatorial diameter than those cultivated in open-field conditions.
However, no statistically significant differences between treatments appeared in peel thickness (harvest I) and titratable acidity values.
The soil water deficit increased total soluble solids and decreased juice content, especially in open-field trees.
In conclusion, shading lime trees allowed to be more resilient for soil water deficits, due to better physiological performance, inducing higher yield and better external fruit quality traits.
Authors
A.B. Mira-García, M.R. Conesa, W. Conejero, J. Vera, M.C. Ruiz-Sánchez
Keywords
automated irrigation, Citrus latifolia Tan., cropping system, lime juice, shade screen
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