Response of Navel Lane Late citrus trees to regulated deficit irrigation: Yield components and fruit composition

The aim of this study was to determine how regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) would affect the yield and fruit quality parameters at harvest for lane late Navel during the summer month / fruit growth phase 2. The final fruit size of all RDI treatments were smaller compared to the control, however, The first treatment of 50% ET₀ had the best internal quality fruit with higher total soluble solids and acids. The latter treatment had a 19% yield reduction due to fruit size.

This is important for growers and FFC consultants to understand water stress /RDI treatments during key phenological stages to improve fruit quality especially in a low acid season (high heat unit accumulation) and low acid areas.

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Source:

C. Ballester • J. Castel • D. S. Intrigliolo •J. R. Castel
Irrigation Science