Deficit Irrigation Management in Early-Maturing Peach Crop

Abstract In the context of a water scarcity scenario, typical of Mediterranean climates, the agronomic and physiological responses of early-maturing peach trees, such as tree growth pattern (including root dynamics), to different deficit drip irrigation strategies are discussed. An estimation of local crop, basal, and irrigation coefficients is also presented. Compared with full irrigation, a deficit irrigation strategy, managed continuously during the growing season, induces a reduction in yield, fruit size, and vegetative growth, whereas a regulated deficit irrigation strategy, performed during specific phenological periods (outside stage III of fruit growth), induces maximum water saving despite a reduction in yield but no changes in fruit size or quality at harvest, leading to the highest water use efficiency. For optimal yield, stem water potential should be maintained above −0.9 MPa during summer. Automatic irrigation based on soil water content status monitoring and plant phenology allows feedback irrigation scheduling with no penalization in yield.