Skip to main content
ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Parlier, California » San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center » Water Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #267449

Title: Manage postharvest deficit irrigation of peach trees using canopy to air temperature

Author
item Wang, Dong
item Zhang, Huihui

Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/27/2011
Publication Date: 10/2/2011
Citation: Wang, D., Zhang, H. 2011. Manage postharvest deficit irrigation of peach trees using canopy to air temperature. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts. Paper No. 288-10.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: A field study was conducted to use mid-day canopy to air temperature difference (delta T) to manage postharvest deficit irrigation of peach trees in San Joaquin Valley of California and its performance was evaluated. Delta T thresholds were selected, based on previous years’ stem water potential and delta T measurements, for four irrigation treatments: furrow and subsurface drip irrigation with or without postharvest water stress. In both growing seasons (2009-2010 and 2010-2011), the measured delta T values showed differences among treatments. An acceptable correlation was obtained when delta T was related to stem water potential (R2=0.47-0.65). The results also indicated that stem water potential in irrigation treatments with or without water stress should be maintained above -2 MPa or between -0.58 to -0.9 MPa, respectively. Deficit irrigation showed the differences in the total number of fruit and fruit weight per tree but not in weight per fruit. The relationship between weight per fruit and postharvest irrigation amount for last four year study shows that up to 60 % water saving can be achieved with minimal impact on fruit size.