RESPONSE OF GRAPEFRUIT TO DIFFERENT AMOUNTS OF WATER APPLIED BY DRIPPERS AND MINISPRINKLERS

Grapefruit irrigation water requirements (ETP) reached 55% of Epan at full tree development, corresponding in a normal year to 800 mm of water.
Application of 27% more water, did not increase substantially the amount and the earliness of the produce, tree growth or fruit size.
A reduction, however, in the amount of water applied affected significantly tree growth and production.
An application of 36% less water affected mostly the earliness of production; only 45.7% of fruits (33.2 t.ha^-1) were harvested in October, in contrast to 67.5% (56.3 t.ha^-1) when the whole water requirement was applied; the effect, however, on total yield was less, 72.6 versus 83.4 t.ha^-1, respectively, corresponding to a 13% reduction in total yield.
The reduction in early and total production with less water applied was due both to smaller fruit size and to fewer fruits harvested.
The irrigation method, drippers or minisprinklers, did not affect tree growth or production.
Both methods can be, therefore, successfully used to irrigate grapefruit provided that the correct amount of water is applied.

International Symposium on Current Developments in Mediterranean Tropical and Subtropical Fruit Production and Research

G. Eliades

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1994.365.11