Development of Irrigation Program using Leaf Water Potential in Royal Table Grape Variety in the Mediterranean Region

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This research was conducted over two consecutive years 2009-2010 in the Cukurova conditions of Turkey on Royal table grape variety in order to determine the optimal timing of irrigation for high quality yield using mid-day leaf water potential values. In the study, six different treatments based on irrigation treatments; full irrigation (FI), soil water deficit in the 80 cm within the seven-day intervals was replenished to the field capacity; deficit irrigations, DI_50; DI_75; and Partial Root-zone Drying PRD_50 which received, respectively 50, 75 and a control treatment (non irrigated). .Irrigation interval of 7-day used for all irrigated treatments Experimental design is randomized blocks with three replications. In general, irrigation treatments had significant effect on yield at 1% level. The differences can be attributed to varying weather and soil water conditions occurred in the experimental years. Highest yield was obtained from the full irrigation as 28.6 t ha^-1, and the lowest yield was obtained non-irrigated control treatment 12.5 t ha^-1. Leaf water potential (LWP) were measured throughout the growing season with a pressure chamber. Highest yields of Royal table variety can be obtained when irrigated at LWP value Ψ = -1.17 MPa. The results revealed that LWP can be used for irrigation scheduling of grapes.

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Grapevine , Leaf water potential , Drip irrigation , Partial root zone drying , Deficit irrigation.

Journal Of The Faculty Of Agriculture, Suleyman Demirel University

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Journal Of The Faculty Of Agriculture, Suleyman Demirel University