Effect of deficit irrigation on yield and quality of pear (Pyrus communis cv. Triumph of Vienna)

Abstract

Crop demands for irrigation require different technologies to optimize the use of water. Regulated Deficit Irrigation (RDI) is a strategy that enables a significant reduction of water application without affecting the crop yield and quality, with the advantage of being a tool for control of vegetative growth. The present study was conducted in Sesquile, Cundinamarca (Colombia) between 2015 and 2016. The objective was to evaluate the quality and development of pear crop (Pyrus communis L. cv. Triumph of Vienna) on field conditions, using three treatments of 100%, and 25% of water requirement (ETc) and no irrigation, applied at the rapid fruit growth stage. The mid day stem water potential, plant water relations, pressure-volume curve, fruit yield and quality were evaluated. There were no significant differences in the yield and quality of the fruits among the different irrigation treatments. The trees had the mechanisms of osmotic adjustment, which allowed water stressed trees to cope with irrigation restrictions during the rapid fruit growth stage without affecting the yield.