Soliman, M., Ennab, H., Mikhael, G. (2018). Effect of Periodic Deficit Irrigation at Different Fruit Growth Stages on Yield and Fruit Quality of "Anna" Apple Trees.. Journal of Plant Production, 9(1), 13-19. doi: 10.21608/jpp.2018.35233
M. A. M. Soliman; H. A. Ennab; G. B. Mikhael. "Effect of Periodic Deficit Irrigation at Different Fruit Growth Stages on Yield and Fruit Quality of "Anna" Apple Trees.". Journal of Plant Production, 9, 1, 2018, 13-19. doi: 10.21608/jpp.2018.35233
Soliman, M., Ennab, H., Mikhael, G. (2018). 'Effect of Periodic Deficit Irrigation at Different Fruit Growth Stages on Yield and Fruit Quality of "Anna" Apple Trees.', Journal of Plant Production, 9(1), pp. 13-19. doi: 10.21608/jpp.2018.35233
Soliman, M., Ennab, H., Mikhael, G. Effect of Periodic Deficit Irrigation at Different Fruit Growth Stages on Yield and Fruit Quality of "Anna" Apple Trees.. Journal of Plant Production, 2018; 9(1): 13-19. doi: 10.21608/jpp.2018.35233
Effect of Periodic Deficit Irrigation at Different Fruit Growth Stages on Yield and Fruit Quality of "Anna" Apple Trees.
1Deciduous Fruit Trees Research Department, Hort. Res. Inst, Agric. Res. Center, Giza, Egypt.
2Citrus Research Department, Hort. Res. Inst. Agric. Res. Center, Giza, Egypt.
Abstract
This study was carried out during two successive growing seasons 2016 and 2017 at a private farm located at El-Nubaria, Beheira governorate, Egypt to study the effect of irrigation deficit at different growth stages on some vegetative growth parameters, yield and fruit quality of "Anna" apple trees. The obtained data showed that, the highest mean values for studied vegetative growth parameters such as shoot length, shoot diameter, leaf area and specific leaf weight , yield (kg/tree – ton/fed.), fruit set percentage and some fruit characters (fruit weight, fruit size, fruit length, fruit diameter and fruit shape) were recorded under control treatment (conventional irrigation). Meanwhile, vegetative growth parameters recorded the lowest values under T6 treatment, while the lowest values of fruit set percentage and yield were recorded under T5. Fruit weight, fruit size, fruit length and fruit diameter recorded the least values with T7 treatment. Concerning, productivity of irrigation water (PIW), whereas the highest values were obtained by T6 treatment, T5 treatment gave the lowest values. Fruit firmness, TSS and anthocyanin content in fruit peel of "Anna" apple were significantly affected by irrigation treatments, where, T7 treatment recorded the highest values for measured fruit firmness and TSS, while T6 treatment recorded the highest values for anthocyanin. The lowest values for measured fruit firmness, TSS and anthocyanin content were found under control condition (standard irrigation). Hence, we can recommend apple growers to apply T3 treatment(12.972 m3/tree/year = 4540.2 m3/fed./year) to save 25%of irrigation water, as well as, to obtain about the same fruit set and yield of control trees.