Response of peach trees to regulated deficit irrigation during stage 2 of fruit development and summer pruning

Abstract

Regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) during stage 2 of fruit development and summer pruning (watersprout removal, WSR) can be used to control excessive vegetative growth in high-density peach orchards. The dynamics of tree-light interception after the application of RDI (no irrigation during stage 2) and WSR in summer were evaluated during two consecutive years. RDI and WSR treatments produced similar reductions in the percentage of light intercepted by the tree at the end of the 2-year experiment. However, it was not possible to produce the same seasonal dynamics in the percentage of light intercepted by the tree using the RDI and the WSR techniques; RDI trees showed a gradual reduction in the amount of light intercepted as the productive cycle progressed, while WSR trees showed an immediate reduction in the amount of light intercepted. Moreover, the mechanisms responsible for vegetative growth reduction were different in the RDI and the WSR techniques. The RDI technique was associated with reductions in tree water status and decreases in gravimetric soil water (theta g) and fruit growth capacity. RDI may have reduced theta g below the threshold required for optimum fruit growth, whereas WSR reduced water consumption, improved water status and therefore could have benefited fruit growth. Therefore, RDI and WSR greatly differ when the mechanisms responsible for vegetative growth reduction are taken into consideration.