Apple Tree Responses to Irrigation under the Grower Condition in the Climate of Düzce Area

This study aimed to investigate response of “Granny Smith” apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) tree to irrigation under grower condition in the climate of Düzce area. In this study, some physiological observations, such as leaf water potential (LWP), stomatal conductance (gs) and photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) on the apple trees, were performed weekly before irrigation in the selected episode during the irrigation season. Concurrently, in all irrigation season, soil water content (SWC) in the different soil layers (0-30 cm, 30-60 cm, 60-90 cm, 90-120 cm) was also monitored at the apple orchard. All observations were evaluated between each other after harvest of apple trees. Study results showed that SWC was fluctuated between field capacity (FC) and permeant wilting point (PWP) during irrigation season. SWC did not fulfill until 50% of amount of allowable depletion in the apple orchard’s soil profile except some high rainy days. LWP, gs and PAR were increased by increasing of SWC in all soil layers. The strongest relationship for all correlations in all soil layers was obtained in 30-60 cm soil layers at the apple orchard. It was found that LWP had strong relationships with PAR (R2=0.84) while LWP~gs relationships were weak (R2=0.53). In this study, according to observations, it could be stated that apple trees to irrigation water under grower condition was not satisfied. Finally, a proper irrigation scheduling was needed for such as apple orchards even though precipitation was frequently happened in the summer.

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