Response to regulated deficit irrigation of a nectarine orchard in Southern Spain

Abstract

Irrigated agriculture is facing restrictions due to water scarcity. Regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) is a technique that has been shown to reduce irrigation water use in fruit orchards and vines. In RDI, water is applied below crop requirements during certain developmental stages that are less sensitive to water stress. The objective of this study was to test the RDI strategy in a nectarine commercial orchard (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch 'Sweet Lady') in Southern Spain. The experiment was conducted in 2007 and 2008 and RDI was compared to the farmer's irrigation schedule. In RDI treatment, water was withheld from the start of the irrigation period (end of May) until the start of the rapid f..