Optimization of irrigation management by determination of water and carbon demands in mango trees.
Pavel E. W., Villiers A. J. de
Author Affiliation: Dept. of Plant Production and Soil Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa.
: 98-99
Abstract : 'Kent' mango (Mangifera indica) trees were subjected to four different irrigation regimes consisting of two controls (control 1=100% of field capacity; control 2=according to commercial farm practices) and two progressively reduced treatments (75 and 50%, respectively, of the amount of irrigation water applied in control 1). Water saving accounted for 22 and 43% of control 1 for the two progressively reduced treatments, respectively. Trunk and fruit diameter were measured in monthly and biweekly intervals, respectively, and fruit yield was determined at harvest. Reduced irrigation treatments did not negatively affect trunk and fruit growth as well as yield during the first growing season in comparison to the controls. Since fruit trees adapt slowly to irrigation practices, effects of reduced irrigation water applications need to be evaluated over a long-term period.