Effect of water regime on yield, fruit quality and some water relations of peach under conditions of heavy clay soils [electronic resource].

Includes references.

The present trial was performed during the two successive growing seasons 2013 and 2014 at a private farm located at sidi salem District, Kafr EL-Sheikh Govemorate to study the impact of irrigation water regime on yield, fruit quality and some water relations of peach trees under heavy clay soils condition. The investigation was carried out on "Early Grand" Peach tress eight years old budded on Nemaguard rootstock and spaced at 5x5 metre apart. The studied soil is heavy clay in texture. The used experimental design in this present is randomized completely block with four replicates. Twenty trees were selected in this study and divided randomly into four groups; each group was subjected to one of the following irrigation treatments: 11 (standard irrigation practice by local farmers as the control), 12 (giving 12 irrigations through the vegetative growth period), l3 (giving 9 irrigations through the vegetative growth period) and l4 (giving 6 irrigations through the vegetative growth period, which represents water stress conditions on peach plants trees). The data revealed that the highest overall mean values for water applied (Wa) consumptive use (Cu) and consumptive use efficiency (Ecu) were recorded under irrigation treatment 11 and the values are 101.82 cm (4276.52) m3/fed.), 66.99 cm. (2813.44m31fed.) and 65.79% for Wa, Cu and Ecu, respectively. Meanwhile, the lowest values were recorded under irrigation treatment 14 and the values are 76.25 cm. (3202.55 m3/fed.) 47.61 cm. (1999.66 m3/fed.). And 62.47% for Wa, Cu and Ecu, respectively. Concerning, water productivity (WP) and productivity of irrigation water (PIW{, the highest overall mean values were recorded under irrigation treatment 12 and the values are 2.70'kg/m3and 1.73 kg/m for WP and PIW, respectively. On the other hand, the lowes_t values were recorded under irrigation treatment 11 (standard) and the values are 2. 16 kg/m3and t .43 kg/m3 for WP and PIW, respectively. Regarding, yield and fruit quality of peach" Early Grand" were significantly affected by irrigation treatments, where, water stress conditions significantly decreased yield and fruit quality except pre-harvest fruit drop(%), V.C Juice, fruit firmness, fruit acidity and TSS /acid ratio which increased under stressful conditions (14), in comparison with other yield and fruit quality parameters were significantly increased under non-stressful treatments, where the highest mean values were recorded under the conditions of irrigation treatment 12. Key words: water regime, peach, water relations, heavy clay soils.

Summary in Arabic.

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