Effect of irrigation practices upon yield and fruit quality of four grapefruit ( Citrus paradisi Mac.) cultivars

Two strategies of irrigation were applied during the phase of fruit growth in 30-year-old grapefruit trees (Citrus paradisi Mac.) of four varieties (cv. Marsh SRA 8, cv. Shambar SRA 22, cv. Frost Marsh, cv. Ruby). For the first strategy (T1), the trees were irrigated every week at 100% crop evapotra...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Water science & technology. Water supply 2021-09, Vol.21 (6), p.2735-2747
Main Authors: Morianou, G., Ziogas, V., Kourgialas, N. N., Karatzas, G. P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural production
Agriculture
agronomic practices
Ascorbic acid
Cell division
Citric acid
citrus
Citrus fruits
Citrus paradisi
Climate change
Crop yield
Cultivars
deficit irrigation
Evapotranspiration
Fertilizers
Flavor
Flavour
Food quality
Fruit trees
Fruits
Grapefruit
Harvest
Irrigation
Irrigation effects
Irrigation practices
Marshes
Nitrates
Phenols
Productivity
Trees
Vitamins
water management
Water quality
Water stress
Water use
Yields
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Summary:Two strategies of irrigation were applied during the phase of fruit growth in 30-year-old grapefruit trees (Citrus paradisi Mac.) of four varieties (cv. Marsh SRA 8, cv. Shambar SRA 22, cv. Frost Marsh, cv. Ruby). For the first strategy (T1), the trees were irrigated every week at 100% crop evapotranspiration (ETc), while for the second strategy (T2) at 60% ETc. At harvest time, tree yield was estimated along with fruit quality and water productivity. T1 strategy significantly increased the tree yield, the fruit weight and the juice content. Although an increase in water productivity (crop yield/total water use) was achieved during the water stress experiment for three out of the four varieties. The main effect of the T2 strategy was a significant increase of qualitative (commercial and nutritional) attributes like total soluble solids (TSS), citric acid, ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) and phenolic content. In addition, strategy T2 increased the maturation index and the fruits had sweeter flavor for two varieties. These results lead to the conclusion that in mature grapefruit trees, optimal irrigation practice provided better fruit yield, while water stress practices favor the accumulation of specific nutritional elements and improve specific fruit quality parameters, especially for cv. Ruby.
ISSN:1606-9749
1607-0798
DOI:10.2166/ws.2021.113