REGULATED DEFICIT IRRIGATION IN PEACH. A GLOBAL ANALYSIS

A review of different experiments conducted to determine peach response to regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) strategies allows an analysis of some critical topics related to the application of these irrigation strategies.
The analysis in based on those aspects that more frequently have been reported in the original works: soil depth and water holding capacity, soil infiltration after a drying cycle, how fast the deficit is imposed, mainly during fruit growth stage II, different aspects related to the used cultivar, fruit load, effects of RDI applied in post-harvest, etc.
RDI normally reduces vegetative growth and in some specific cases might have a positive effect on fruit size, but normally there is no effect or a reduction in fruit size when applying RDI. A collateral benefit of RDI is that research has been stimulated into the analysis of seasonal sensitivity of different plants to water deficits with the possibility to make progress in areas such as minimal irrigation, how to use reduced amounts of water, or improve fruit quality by managing irrigation.

V International Peach Symposium

J. Girona

water stress, yield, fruit load, water savings

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2002.592.47