Abstract
The efficient use of water in the agricultural sector is an important issue not only for profitable production and high-quality crops but also for the protection of soil and water resources. Field experiments were conducted in Bursa city located in northwest of Turkey with sub-humid climate over clay-loam soils during three consecutive growing seasons (2012–2014). Irrigation treatments included 100% (FI) of crop evapotranspiration (ETc), 75% (DI1), 50% (DI2), and 25% (DI3) of ETc at 3‑day intervals via drip irrigation during the growing season. Also, irrigation water was applied as 100% ETc from transplantation to the beginning of flowering (DI4), yield formation (DI5), fruit ripening (DI6), later 50% ETc. Analyses were conducted to determine the effects of different irrigation strategies on fruit yield and quality traits. The amount of irrigation water applied, actual evapotranspiration, net return, and water productivity indicators were calculated separately for each treatment. According to 3‑year averages, relatively greater yields (66.47 and 65.18 t ha−1) were obtained from FI and DI6 treatments, respectively. The greatest net return per unit area was received as 4042 € ha−1 from FI treatment. The greatest net return per unit volume of irrigation water (1.00 € m−3) and the greatest water productivity (13.73 kg m−3) were obtained from DI6 treatment. Irrigation regimes significantly affected fruit length and diameter, fruit soluble solids content, total sugar, titratable acidity, vitamin C, and protein content. Deficit irrigations improved melon quality traits. Considering the overall yield, quality, water productivity, and net returns, DI6 treatment was recommended for the drip irrigation of melon plants in the sub-humid region of Northwest Turkey.
Zusammenfassung
Die effiziente Nutzung von Wasser in der Landwirtschaft ist nicht nur ein wichtiges Thema für eine rentable Produktion und qualitativ hochwertige Ernten, sondern auch für den Schutz von Böden und Wasserressourcen. Feldexperimente wurden in der Stadt Bursa im Nordwesten der Türkei mit subhumidem Klima auf Lehmböden in drei aufeinanderfolgenden Vegetationsperioden (2012–2014) durchgeführt. Die Bewässerungsbehandlungen umfassten 100 % (FI) der Evapotranspiration (ETc), 75 % (DI1), 50 % (DI2) und 25 % (DI3) der ETc in 3‑Tages-Intervallen mittels Tröpfchenbewässerung während der Vegetationsperiode. Außerdem wurde von der Verpflanzung bis zu dem Beginn der Blüte (DI4), der Ertragsbildung (DI5) und der Fruchtreife (DI6) mit 100 % ETc bewässert, später mit 50 % ETc. Es wurden Analysen durchgeführt, um die Auswirkungen verschiedener Bewässerungsstrategien auf den Fruchtertrag und die Qualitätsmerkmale zu bestimmen. Die Menge des eingesetzten Bewässerungswassers, die tatsächliche Evapotranspiration, der Nettoertrag und die Wasserproduktivitätsindikatoren wurden für jede Behandlung separat berechnet. Nach 3‑Jahres-Durchschnittswerten wurden relativ höhere Erträge (66,47 und 65,18 t ha−1) mit FI- bzw. DI6-Behandlungen erzielt. Der größte Nettoertrag pro Flächeneinheit wurde mit 4042 € ha−1 aus der FI-Behandlung erzielt. Der größte Nettoertrag pro Volumeneinheit Bewässerungswasser (1,00 € m−3) und die höchste Wasserproduktivität (13,73 kg m−3) wurden aus der DI6-Behandlung erzielt. Die Bewässerungsregimes beeinflussten Länge und Durchmesser der Früchte, den Gehalt an löslichen Feststoffen der Früchte, den Gesamtzucker, die titrierbare Säure, den Vitamin-C- und den Proteingehalt signifikant. Defizitbewässerungen verbesserten die Qualitätsmerkmale der Melone. In Anbetracht des Gesamtertrags, der Qualität, der Wasserproduktivität und des Nettoertrags wurde die DI6-Behandlung für die Tröpfchenbewässerung von Melonenpflanzen in der subhumiden Region der Nordwesttürkei empfohlen.
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H. Kuscu and A. Turhan declare that they have no competing interests.
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Kuscu, H., Turhan, A. Yield, Net Return and Fruit Quality Response of Melon to Deficit Irrigation. Gesunde Pflanzen 74, 647–659 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10343-022-00639-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10343-022-00639-w