Characterization of pistachio fruit growth stages as a base for irrigation scheduling
2014
Memmi, H. | Gijón, M.C. | Guerrero, J. | Couceiro, J.F. | Pérez-López, D.
Regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) is a technique based on: reducing the water supply in growth stages of tree/fruit when a controlled water stress does not, or does not significantly, affect yield or fruit quality, to cover crop evaporative demand during the rest of the year and to have knowledge of the critical periods for the application of RDI. For this purpose, pistachio fruits (‘Kerman’ grafted on Pistacia terebinthus) development was studied during an “ON” load year (2010) to characterize the evolution of fruit growth and to identify clearly each growth stage for the aim of having a more efficient application of RDI. Shell diameter, fresh fruits weight, kernel weight and shell hardness were measured during the experiment. The study took place in a 12-year-old pistachio (Pistacia vera L. ‘Kerman’ on Pistacia terebinthus L. rootstock) orchard at the “El Chaparrillo” Research Station, Ciudad Real, Spain (3°56’W, 39°0’N; altitude 640 m). Three irrigation regimes were applied; a control and two treatments with different levels and moments of water stress (T1, T2). The fruit growth pattern has been characterized by a continuous shell lignification throughout the period of fruit growth. The lack of irrigation supply during stage I and II has shown better results in fruit diameter than a lower input distributed between stage I and III.
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