COMPARISON OF THREE IRRIGATION SYSTEMS OF PERGOLA-TRAINED KIWIFRUIT ORCHARD

Kiwifruit is generally considered as a specie having very high requirements of water, as regards both soil and air moisture.
Even short drought periods can induce rapid dehydration of the herbaceous parts of the plant and stop fruit development.

The aim of this trial was to compare the influence of three different irrigation systems (drip, sprinkler, and mixed one), on the basis of data recorded considering main biometrical and productive parameters during a 10 years period, on cv Hayward trained as horizontal trellis.

The drip system provided a better water distribution along the pipeline as compared with the sprinkler system requiring in addition an higher maintenance.

The mixed system (drip+sprinkler) assured the highest plant development and a slightly but significantly higher yield (particularly during the orchard training phase) but required more expensive material, in addition with energy input and maintenance costs.

Considering both the progressive decrease in kiwifruit sale price all over the world and the ever increasing costs of irrigation material, the irrigation system to be selected will be chosen on the basis of an economic evaluation of the production costs

III International Symposium on Kiwifruit

F. Monastra, A. Chiariotti, G. Colorio, G. Proietti

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1997.444.52