Effects of Deficit Irrigation and Fertilizer Use on Vegetative Growth of Drip Irrigated Cherry Trees

ABSTRACT The effects of deficit irrigation and fertilizer use under drip irrigation (DI), on vegetative growth of mature cherry trees were studied in two field experiments. Treatments for the assessment of deficit irrigation consisted of two drip line arrays: double drip lines (T1) and loop (T2) as main treatments. Three irrigation levels: irrigation at 100% of crop evapotranspiration (ETc or I1), 75% ETc or I2, and 50% ETc or I3, constituted the sub-treatments. To assess soil fertility practices, the main treatments consisted of T1 and single drip line (T3) arrays; sub-treatments were two fertilizer regimes: basic fertilizer recommendation plus 0.5 m3 sheep manure per tree (F1) and basic fertilizer recommendation plus 1300 g potassium sulfate, 350 g of zinc (Zn), 140 g of iron (Fe), and 600 g ammonium phosphate (F2). Total irrigation amount, which was applied routinely in control treatment (7466.7 m3ha− 1), was less than the crop water requirement (8764.5 m3 ha− 1). A significant correlation between both the length of young branches and canopy volume with annual applied irrigation water was observed. Mean canopy volume under T1 was 26.0 m3 tree− 1, which was significantly less than 28.6 m3 tree− 1 under T2. Water use efficiency (kg m− 3) was increased by water stress, but there was no significant yield reduction from I1 to I2. Concentration of Fe, phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and magnesium (Mg) in leaf samples increased with the use of double drip lines array compared to use of single drip line array and it was higher under F2 fertilizer level. The concentration of calcium (Ca) in leaf samples was higher than critical level in all treatments. We conclude that I2 irrigation level and F2 fertilizer management was the most efficient practice for cherry trees in the study area.

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