RESPONSE OF FRAGRANT PEAR GROWTH TO DIFFERENT MICRO-IRRIGATION CONDITIONS

摘要

The situation that water is becoming increasingly scarce and micro-irrigation can enhance water use efficiency is recognized worldwide. Until now, the Korla fragrant pear trees were irrigated by traditional flood irrigation in the west of China, so there is great potential to cut down agricultural water use. The response of fragrant pear trees to micro-irrigation management under field conditions in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region was conducted in 2009. There were four irrigation approaches: (1) surface drip irrigation; (2) subsurface drip irrigation; (3) micro–sprinkling irrigation; (4) traditional flood irrigation. Three micro-irrigation treatments were fully irrigated to the 80% ET every week during the whole growing season. Soil water potential, vegetative growth, production and fruit quality were measured in this experiment. Micro-irrigation treatments could save 700mm of total irrigation water, 50% of that with flood irrigation. Results indicated that pear fruit yield and fruit quality were slightly influenced. In particular, the VC content of pears at micro-sprinkler treatment exceeded 60% of that with flood irrigation, at the level of 0.24mg/100g. Wherefore, changing the inefficient irrigation method to micro-irrigation is necessary for Korla fragrant pear in Xinjiang region.