Irrigation of #x2018;Golden Delicious#x2019; apple trees on the Moutere Hills Nelson, has resulted in a 5-year cumulative yield increase of 16 and 9 for treatments applied at 80 or 20 available soil moisture respectively. Significant yield increases were obtained in only 2 of the 5 years, and fruit size was increased in 3 of the 5 years. Trees tended towards a biennial bearing production pattern which was accentuated by irrigation. Trunk and shoot growth were also increased by irrigation. These preliminary results suggest that on these soil types, the critical soil moisture deficit for mature Golden Delicious apple trees is tcached when the soil dries to approximately 30 available moisture.
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