Long-term effects of restricted root volume and regulated deficit irrigation on peach: I. Growth and mineral nutrition

Abstract

Individual and interactive effects of restricted root volume (RRV) and regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) on vegetative growth and mineral nutrition of peach trees [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch (Peach Group) 'Golden Queen'] were studied over 3 years (1992-95). Trees were grown in lysimeters of five different volumes (0.025, 0.06, 0.15, 0.4, and 1.0 m ) with either full or deficit (RDI) irrigation. Increasing soil volume increased vegetative growth as measured by trunk cross-sectional area (TCA) (linear and quadratic, P<0.011) and tree weight (linear, P<0.001) with the final TCA ranging from 29.0 to 51.0 cm and tree weight ranging from 7.2 to 12.1 kg for the smallest to largest volumes. Root d..