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Water savings, nutrient leaching, and fruit yield in a young avocado orchard as affected by irrigation and nutrient management

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Abstract

This project was designed to determine the effect of fertilizer rate and irrigation scheduling on water use, nutrient leaching, and fruit yield of young avocado trees (Persea americana Mill. cv. Simmonds). Seven nutrient and irrigation management practices were evaluated: (1) irrigation based on crop evapotranspiration (ET) with 50% fertilizer at a standard rate (FSR); (2) ET irrigation with FSR (typical for avocado production in the area); (3) ET irrigation with 200% FSR; (4) irrigation based on exceedance of 15-kPa (SW) soil water suction with 50% FSR; (5) SW with FSR; (6) SW with 200% FSR; and (7) irrigation at a set schedule (based on timing and frequency typically used in local avocado production) with FSR. The SW with FSR treatment saved 87% of the water volume applied and reduced total phosphorus leached by 74% compared to the set schedule irrigation with FSR. The SW with FSR treatment had higher avocado fruit production, tree water-use efficiency, and fertilizer-use efficiency than the other six treatments. Thus, the use of soil water monitoring for irrigation management can substantially increase sustainability of young avocado orchards in southern Florida.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Tina Dispenza, Harry Trafford, Laura Rosado, Quiqin Yu, Michael Gutierrez, and Wanda Montas for assistance with material preparation and data collection and analysis. We also thank several colleagues who assisted with result interpretations and manuscript review. We would also wish to acknowledge support from the Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department and the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA. This project was funded by a USDA-CSREES National Integrated Water Grant.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department, Tropical Research and Education Center, University of Florida, 18905 SW 280th Street, Homestead, FL, 33031, USA

    Nicholas Kiggundu & Kati W. Migliaccio

  2. Horticultural Sciences Department, Tropical Research and Education Center, University of Florida, 18905 SW 280th Street, Homestead, FL, 33031, USA

    Bruce Schaffer & Jonathan H. Crane

  3. Soil and Water Science Department, Tropical Research and Education Center, University of Florida, 18905 SW 280th Street, Homestead, FL, 33031, USA

    Yuncong Li

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  1. Nicholas Kiggundu
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  2. Kati W. Migliaccio
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  3. Bruce Schaffer
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  4. Yuncong Li
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  5. Jonathan H. Crane
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Correspondence to Nicholas Kiggundu.

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Communicated by E. Fereres.

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Kiggundu, N., Migliaccio, K.W., Schaffer, B. et al. Water savings, nutrient leaching, and fruit yield in a young avocado orchard as affected by irrigation and nutrient management. Irrig Sci 30, 275–286 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-011-0280-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-011-0280-6

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