Articles
RESPONSES OF MANGO TREES TO REDUCED IRRIGATION REGIMES
Article number
646_7
Pages
63 – 68
Language
English
Abstract
Four-year-old Kent mango (Mangifera indica L.) trees were subjected to five irrigation regimes consisting of the control (Co), a regulated deficit (RDI) and two progressively reduced irrigation (PRI-1, PRI-2) treatments as well as the farm control.
The orchard was well suited for pulse irrigation because of its soil particle size distribution (81 ± 7% sand, 5 ± 5% silt, and 13 ±5 % clay), high infiltration rates (289 ± 52 mm h-1), and low water holding capacities (90 ± 20 mm water/m soil). During the 2000/2001, frequent applications of irrigation water led to water savings in the range of 32-58% water in the four treatments compared to the farm control.
Leaf photosynthetic rates were significantly reduced in PRI-2 in summer.
In response to the first water withholding period before flowering (May/June 2000), stomatal conductance rates were significantly lower in the RDI treatment in contrast to the other treatments.
Reduced irrigation treatments (PRI-1, PRI-2, RDI) significantly reduced the vegetative growth in comparison to the farm control.
Yield was not significantly affected by the various irrigation treatments.
However, differences in yield between treatments seemed to be mainly related to fruit number indicating that the reduced irrigation treatments might have affected rather growing conditions before flowering or during the early stages of fruit growth than later in the season.
The orchard was well suited for pulse irrigation because of its soil particle size distribution (81 ± 7% sand, 5 ± 5% silt, and 13 ±5 % clay), high infiltration rates (289 ± 52 mm h-1), and low water holding capacities (90 ± 20 mm water/m soil). During the 2000/2001, frequent applications of irrigation water led to water savings in the range of 32-58% water in the four treatments compared to the farm control.
Leaf photosynthetic rates were significantly reduced in PRI-2 in summer.
In response to the first water withholding period before flowering (May/June 2000), stomatal conductance rates were significantly lower in the RDI treatment in contrast to the other treatments.
Reduced irrigation treatments (PRI-1, PRI-2, RDI) significantly reduced the vegetative growth in comparison to the farm control.
Yield was not significantly affected by the various irrigation treatments.
However, differences in yield between treatments seemed to be mainly related to fruit number indicating that the reduced irrigation treatments might have affected rather growing conditions before flowering or during the early stages of fruit growth than later in the season.
Authors
E.W. Pavel, A.J. de Villiers
Keywords
Regulated deficit irrigation, Mangifera indica L.
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