2 research outputs found
Limitations to adopting regulated deficit irrigation in stone fruit orchards: a case study
18 Pags., 6 Tabls., 7 Figs. Available online at www.inia.es/sjarFruit production development is resulting in large commercial orchards with improved water management standards.
While the agronomic and economic benefits of regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) have long been established, the local
variability in soils and climate and the irrigation system design limits its practical applications. This paper uses a case
study approach (a 225 ha stone fruit orchard) to unveil limitations derived from environmental spatial variability and
irrigation performance. The spatial variability of soil physical parameters and meteorology in the orchard was
characterized, and its implication on crop water requirements was established. Irrigation depths applied during 2004-
2009 were analysed and compared with crop water requirements under standard and RDI strategies. Plant water status
was also measured during two irrigation seasons using stem water potential measurements. On-farm wind speed
variability amounted to 55%, representing differences of 17% in reference evapotranspiration. During the study seasons,
irrigation scheduling evolved towards deficit irrigation; however, the specific traits of RDI in stone fruits were not
implemented. RDI implementation was limited by: 1) poor correspondence between environmental variability and
irrigation system design; 2) insufficient information on RDI crop water requirements and its on-farm spatial variability
within the farm; and 3) low control of the water distribution networkThis research was funded by the Plan Nacional de I+D+i of the Government of Spain through grant RIDECO-CONSOLIDER CSD2006-00067 and by CSIC through the grant PIE 2007-2009.Peer reviewe