Articles
MODIFICATION OF FLOWERING DATES IN ‘ALGERIE’ LOQUAT BY MEANS OF DEFICIT IRRIGATION
Article number
887_23
Pages
143 – 148
Language
English
Abstract
Regulated deficit irrigation prior to bloom makes loquat more profitable by advancing flowering and consequently the next seasons harvesting.
To achieve this goal, an irrigation strategy was developed in which watering was completely suppressed during shoot growth (June-July in SE Spain), until the trees accumulated a water stress integral of over 47 MPa day.
With the aim of maximizing flowering advancement, the effect of an earlier irrigation restriction was studied.
Three deficit irrigation treatments were compared: T1, water cut at the beginning of harvest; T2, water cut at the end of harvest, and T3, irrigation suppressed five weeks after harvest.
T1 accumulated a water stress integral of 50.4 MPa between April 7th and June 22nd (76 days). T2 accumulated 57.9 MPa between May 4th and July 13th (70 days). T3 extended from June 8th to August 3rd (56 days), accumulating 57.4 MPa.
Water applied throughout the season was 585 mm for T1, 568 mm for T2 and 587 mm for T3, resulting in water savings of around 25 % compared to full irrigation needs (763 mm) in the area.
Earlier water withholding modified bloom date and length.
T3 trees reached full bloom on October 27th, 10 days before fully irrigated trees located in a nearby plot.
Bloom season was short in T3 trees (22 days). T1 advanced full bloom by 18 days compared to T3 trees in a small proportion of shoots, those located at the top of the tree (early bloom), whereas most shoots flowered nine days later than T3 (late bloom). Early and late blooms of T1 were staggered, extending over 40 days.
T2 lengthened flowering by 30 days and advanced full bloom by four days in comparison to T3. High flowering intensity was observed under all deficit irrigation treatments, especially in T3 and early flowering of T1. This work has allowed us to determine the best timing for deficit irrigation with a view to maximizing flowering advancement.
To achieve this goal, an irrigation strategy was developed in which watering was completely suppressed during shoot growth (June-July in SE Spain), until the trees accumulated a water stress integral of over 47 MPa day.
With the aim of maximizing flowering advancement, the effect of an earlier irrigation restriction was studied.
Three deficit irrigation treatments were compared: T1, water cut at the beginning of harvest; T2, water cut at the end of harvest, and T3, irrigation suppressed five weeks after harvest.
T1 accumulated a water stress integral of 50.4 MPa between April 7th and June 22nd (76 days). T2 accumulated 57.9 MPa between May 4th and July 13th (70 days). T3 extended from June 8th to August 3rd (56 days), accumulating 57.4 MPa.
Water applied throughout the season was 585 mm for T1, 568 mm for T2 and 587 mm for T3, resulting in water savings of around 25 % compared to full irrigation needs (763 mm) in the area.
Earlier water withholding modified bloom date and length.
T3 trees reached full bloom on October 27th, 10 days before fully irrigated trees located in a nearby plot.
Bloom season was short in T3 trees (22 days). T1 advanced full bloom by 18 days compared to T3 trees in a small proportion of shoots, those located at the top of the tree (early bloom), whereas most shoots flowered nine days later than T3 (late bloom). Early and late blooms of T1 were staggered, extending over 40 days.
T2 lengthened flowering by 30 days and advanced full bloom by four days in comparison to T3. High flowering intensity was observed under all deficit irrigation treatments, especially in T3 and early flowering of T1. This work has allowed us to determine the best timing for deficit irrigation with a view to maximizing flowering advancement.
Publication
Authors
J.J. Hueso, F. Alonso, M. González
Keywords
Eriobotrya japonica, water stress, bloom, flower quality
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