Work

Effect of Irrigation Treatments for Apple Trees on Water Uptake from Different Soil Layers1

Year: 1972

Type: article

Abstract: Six irrigation treatments consisting of replenishing the water extracted from the 0-60 cm or 0-120 cm layer, were applied to a 10-year-old apple orchard. The highest yield and fruit size were obtained by irrigating to 60 cm depth when soil moisture to this depth dropped to 40% available water during the 2 months of intensive fruit growth. During the rest of the season this treatment was irrigated to 60 cm whenever the 0-60 cm layer dropped to wilting point and to 120 cm whenever the 60-120 cm layer dropped to 60% available water. The relative water extraction from the 60-90 cm layer was the highest in this treatment. Increasing water uptake from layers below 120 cm by watering them was not effective. Climatic conditions favoring high rates of evaporation increased the relative contribution of layers deeper than 90 cm in all plots. The proportion of water loss from the 0-30 cm layer increased with the number of irrigations.

Source: Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science

DOI: 10.21273/jashs.97.4.521

Authors: I. Levin, R. Assaf, B. Bravdo

Institution: Agricultural Research Organization

Language: English

Topic: Irrigation Practices and Water Management

Subfield: Soil Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Zero hunger

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,500