Effect of irrigation on leaf water potential, growth and yield of mango trees.
Larson K. D., Schaffer B., Davies F. S.
Author Affiliation: Tropical Research and Education Center, Homestead, FL 33031, USA.
Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society 102 : 226-228
Abstract : In an experiment in the spring and summer of 1988 in a commercial mango orchard, 8-year-old mango cv. Tommy Atkins trees were subjected to 3 levels of irrigation between 28 Mar. and 10 May using a solid-set sprinkler system. All trees were irrigated on 28 Mar. Thereafter, the 3 treatments consisted of: trees irrigated at approximately 7-day intervals (7DI) with a total supply of 10.06 cm water; trees irrigated at approximately 14-day intervals (14DI) with a total supply of 3.35 cm water; and trees receiving no irrigation (NI). The orchard received 7.62 cm of precipitation during the experimental irrigation period. Irrigation treatments were discontinued on 10 May, shortly before the beginning of the rainy season. Predawn water potential of the 7DI trees remained nearly constant at -3.0 bars while predawn water potential of the NI trees decreased over time, but was never less than -5.0 bars. Predawn water potential of the 14DI trees fluctuated between that of the 7DI and NI treatments. There was some variability among treatments in net photosynthesis and transpiration, but irrigation generally had no effect on these variables. There were no differences in shoot growth among treatments. The NI trees had the smallest fruit on most harvest dates (29 May-17 July) and total yield of the 14DI treatment was lower than that of the 7DI treatment. The 7DI treatment trees produced the largest fruit for most harvest dates and the greatest yields on the earlier harvest dates.