A Reduced Early-Season Irrigation Schedule for Pecans in the Southeastern United States

摘要

Pecan [Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch] tree stem water potential (y), shoot length, nut yield, and nut quality for the following treatments were evaluated in a commercial pecan orchard in Berrien County, Georgia; 1) current recommended irrigation schedule; 2) a reduced early-season irrigation schedule, and 3) non-irrigated control. Water Stress on pecan occurred at about -0.78 MPa using the pressure chamber to measure stem y. Regression analysis suggests that irrigation scheduling for maturepecan trees may be needed when volumetric water content reaches 10% on Tifton loamy sand soil. The reduced early-season irrigation schedule provided a 38% reduction in irrigation water use with no significant effect on pecan tree water stress, yield, orquality, suggesting that pecan trees can tolerate moderate early-season water stress with no effect on pecan yield or quality under Southeastern US environmental conditions.