Usefulness of stem dendrometers as continuous indicator of loquat trees water status

Postharvest regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) is an effective strategy to hasten flowering and harvest in loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.) trees, which in the Mediterranean countries has been related to an increase in the economic return. The success of an RDI strategy, however, depends on the d...

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Autores principales: Ballester, Carlos, Buesa, Ignacio, Bonet, Luis, Intrigliolo, Diego S.
Formato: article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: 2017
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11939/4672
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author Ballester, Carlos
Buesa, Ignacio
Bonet, Luis
Intrigliolo, Diego S.
author_browse Ballester, Carlos
Bonet, Luis
Buesa, Ignacio
Intrigliolo, Diego S.
author_facet Ballester, Carlos
Buesa, Ignacio
Bonet, Luis
Intrigliolo, Diego S.
author_sort Ballester, Carlos
collection ReDivia
description Postharvest regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) is an effective strategy to hasten flowering and harvest in loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.) trees, which in the Mediterranean countries has been related to an increase in the economic return. The success of an RDI strategy, however, depends on the duration and severity of the water stress reached by the trees. When RDI is applied, then, it is important to regularly monitor the plant water status. The measurement of the trunk diameter variations by means of stem dendrometers, which can be automated to remotely determine the plant water status, is a proven method for many fruit trees. In loquat, however, its use has not been yet assessed. In this experiment performed in a loquat orchard planted with the cv. 'Cardona' during the summer of 2009, the suitability of using stem dendrometers to detect plant water stress was assessed by taking measurements in fully irrigated and trees subjected to a drought cycle of 47 days. Results showed that at the beginning of the drought cycle period there was an increase in the maximum daily trunk shrinkage (MDS) in non-irrigated trees even before that clear differences in stem water potential (Psi(s)) could be detected between treatments. However, when plant water stress became more severe (Psi(s) lower than -1.4 MPa), MDS did not increase further. The maximum trunk diameter (MXTD) evolution in control trees showed a steadily increase in trunk growth during the whole experimental period. In non-irrigated trees, however, MXTD remained stable until the end of the treatment when irrigation was resumed. The Psi(s) was the most sensitive indicator to water stress due to its very low tree-to-tree variability in comparison with the other indicators. Overall results show that trunk diameter variations have some limitations to monitor plant water status in loquat RDI orchards and therefore new alternatives should be explored. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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spelling ReDivia46722025-04-25T14:44:08Z Usefulness of stem dendrometers as continuous indicator of loquat trees water status Ballester, Carlos Buesa, Ignacio Bonet, Luis Intrigliolo, Diego S. Postharvest regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) is an effective strategy to hasten flowering and harvest in loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.) trees, which in the Mediterranean countries has been related to an increase in the economic return. The success of an RDI strategy, however, depends on the duration and severity of the water stress reached by the trees. When RDI is applied, then, it is important to regularly monitor the plant water status. The measurement of the trunk diameter variations by means of stem dendrometers, which can be automated to remotely determine the plant water status, is a proven method for many fruit trees. In loquat, however, its use has not been yet assessed. In this experiment performed in a loquat orchard planted with the cv. 'Cardona' during the summer of 2009, the suitability of using stem dendrometers to detect plant water stress was assessed by taking measurements in fully irrigated and trees subjected to a drought cycle of 47 days. Results showed that at the beginning of the drought cycle period there was an increase in the maximum daily trunk shrinkage (MDS) in non-irrigated trees even before that clear differences in stem water potential (Psi(s)) could be detected between treatments. However, when plant water stress became more severe (Psi(s) lower than -1.4 MPa), MDS did not increase further. The maximum trunk diameter (MXTD) evolution in control trees showed a steadily increase in trunk growth during the whole experimental period. In non-irrigated trees, however, MXTD remained stable until the end of the treatment when irrigation was resumed. The Psi(s) was the most sensitive indicator to water stress due to its very low tree-to-tree variability in comparison with the other indicators. Overall results show that trunk diameter variations have some limitations to monitor plant water status in loquat RDI orchards and therefore new alternatives should be explored. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. 2017-06-01T10:10:43Z 2017-06-01T10:10:43Z 2014 AUG article BallE., C., Buesa, I., Bonet, L., Intrigliolo, D.S. (2014). Usefulness of stem dendrometers as continuous indicator of loquat trees water status. Agricultural Water Management, 142, 110-114. 0378-3774 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11939/4672 10.1016/j.agwat.2014.04.019 en openAccess Impreso
spellingShingle Ballester, Carlos
Buesa, Ignacio
Bonet, Luis
Intrigliolo, Diego S.
Usefulness of stem dendrometers as continuous indicator of loquat trees water status
title Usefulness of stem dendrometers as continuous indicator of loquat trees water status
title_full Usefulness of stem dendrometers as continuous indicator of loquat trees water status
title_fullStr Usefulness of stem dendrometers as continuous indicator of loquat trees water status
title_full_unstemmed Usefulness of stem dendrometers as continuous indicator of loquat trees water status
title_short Usefulness of stem dendrometers as continuous indicator of loquat trees water status
title_sort usefulness of stem dendrometers as continuous indicator of loquat trees water status
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11939/4672
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