Abstract

Effective irrigation strategies are crucial in the production of peach (Prunus persica L. Batsch) due to its highwater demand and increasing water scarcity. This study investigated the impact of two Deficit Irrigation (DI) regimes, which are Regulated Deficit Irrigation (RDI) and Partial Root-Zone Drying (PRD), on the water relations, yield, fruit quality, and Irrigation Water Productivity (IWP) of the ‘Early Swelling’ peach trees. Six irrigation treatments were compared: standard irrigation (SI, 100% evapotranspiration, ETc), PRD at three levels (PRD100, PRD80, PRD60), and RDI at two levels (RDI80, RDI60), representing 80% and 60% of the water applied under SI, respectively. The use of strategies of DI was found to enhance the IWP, with the most effective treatment (PRD80) showing an enhancement of up to 40% of the 2-year study. Compared to the control and PRD treatments, the RDI treatment resulted in a significant reduction in Leaf Water Potential (LWP) and Stem Water Potential (SWP). PRD80, SI, and PRD100 had higher yields, whereas the yields of RDI80, RDI60, and PRD60 were significantly lower. All the DI treatments except PRD80 reduced fruit firmness. The RDI system and the PRD system also reduced the acidity of the fruit juice and tended to increase the Total Soluble Solids (TSS). The various irrigation treatments also affected root spread, with the PRD treatments promoting higher fine root density. Overall, RDI positively affected the quality of fruits (reduced acidity, increased TSS), but not yield, whereas PRD, particularly PRD80, had no effect on yield but positively affected the quality of the fruits, suggesting it as a promising strategy for sustainable peach production in water-limited environments.

Keywords:Peach; Water saving; Water relations; Quality; Tree productivity