Effect of Deficit Irrigation on Agronomic and Physiological Performance of Pomegranate (<i>Punica granatum</i> L.)
<b>Abstract:</b> Agriculture accounts for over 70% of global freshwater consumption, with increasing competition for water resources due to climate change and rising urban and industrial demands. This study analyzes the effect of deficit irrigation (DI) on the agronomic and physiological...
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/2/164 |
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| author | Rossana Porras-Jorge José Mariano Aguilar Carlos Baixauli Julián Bartual Bernardo Pascual Nuria Pascual-Seva |
| author_facet | Rossana Porras-Jorge José Mariano Aguilar Carlos Baixauli Julián Bartual Bernardo Pascual Nuria Pascual-Seva |
| author_sort | Rossana Porras-Jorge |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <b>Abstract:</b> Agriculture accounts for over 70% of global freshwater consumption, with increasing competition for water resources due to climate change and rising urban and industrial demands. This study analyzes the effect of deficit irrigation (DI) on the agronomic and physiological performance of pomegranate (<i>Punica granatum</i> L.) in a Mediterranean climate. Deficit irrigation strategies, including sustained deficit irrigation (SDI) and regulated deficit irrigation (RDI), were evaluated against a control with full irrigation. The research was conducted over two growing seasons (2022–2023) at the Cajamar Experimental Centre in Paiporta, Valencia, Spain. RDI strategies achieved approximately 10% water savings without compromising marketable yield or fruit weight, while SDI resulted in significant water savings (~50%) but with a notable reduction in marketable yield, particularly in hot and dry conditions. SDI also reduced tree growth in height and trunk diameter compared to RDI and control strategies. The study concludes that RDI is a viable irrigation strategy for pomegranate cultivation under water-limited conditions, whereas SDI should be reserved for situations of severe water scarcity. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bc6ff441a49e42c8a7fad6858d4087b6 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj-art-bc6ff441a49e42c8a7fad6858d4087b62025-01-24T13:46:34ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-01-0114216410.3390/plants14020164Effect of Deficit Irrigation on Agronomic and Physiological Performance of Pomegranate (<i>Punica granatum</i> L.)Rossana Porras-Jorge0José Mariano Aguilar1Carlos Baixauli2Julián Bartual3Bernardo Pascual4Nuria Pascual-Seva5Departamento de Producción Vegetal, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camí de Vera, s/n, 46022 Valencia, Valencia, SpainCentro Experiencias Cajamar Paiporta, C. Cementerio Nuevo s/n, 46200 Paiporta, Valencia, SpainCentro Experiencias Cajamar Paiporta, C. Cementerio Nuevo s/n, 46200 Paiporta, Valencia, SpainEstación Experimental Agraria de Elche (SST), CV-855, Km. 1, 03290 Elche, Alicante, SpainCentro Valenciano de Estudios sobre el Riego, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camí de Vera, s/n, 46022 Valencia, Valencia, SpainCentro Valenciano de Estudios sobre el Riego, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camí de Vera, s/n, 46022 Valencia, Valencia, Spain<b>Abstract:</b> Agriculture accounts for over 70% of global freshwater consumption, with increasing competition for water resources due to climate change and rising urban and industrial demands. This study analyzes the effect of deficit irrigation (DI) on the agronomic and physiological performance of pomegranate (<i>Punica granatum</i> L.) in a Mediterranean climate. Deficit irrigation strategies, including sustained deficit irrigation (SDI) and regulated deficit irrigation (RDI), were evaluated against a control with full irrigation. The research was conducted over two growing seasons (2022–2023) at the Cajamar Experimental Centre in Paiporta, Valencia, Spain. RDI strategies achieved approximately 10% water savings without compromising marketable yield or fruit weight, while SDI resulted in significant water savings (~50%) but with a notable reduction in marketable yield, particularly in hot and dry conditions. SDI also reduced tree growth in height and trunk diameter compared to RDI and control strategies. The study concludes that RDI is a viable irrigation strategy for pomegranate cultivation under water-limited conditions, whereas SDI should be reserved for situations of severe water scarcity.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/2/164‘Mollar de Elche’sustained deficit irrigationregulated deficit irrigationwater productivity |
| spellingShingle | Rossana Porras-Jorge José Mariano Aguilar Carlos Baixauli Julián Bartual Bernardo Pascual Nuria Pascual-Seva Effect of Deficit Irrigation on Agronomic and Physiological Performance of Pomegranate (<i>Punica granatum</i> L.) Plants ‘Mollar de Elche’ sustained deficit irrigation regulated deficit irrigation water productivity |
| title | Effect of Deficit Irrigation on Agronomic and Physiological Performance of Pomegranate (<i>Punica granatum</i> L.) |
| title_full | Effect of Deficit Irrigation on Agronomic and Physiological Performance of Pomegranate (<i>Punica granatum</i> L.) |
| title_fullStr | Effect of Deficit Irrigation on Agronomic and Physiological Performance of Pomegranate (<i>Punica granatum</i> L.) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of Deficit Irrigation on Agronomic and Physiological Performance of Pomegranate (<i>Punica granatum</i> L.) |
| title_short | Effect of Deficit Irrigation on Agronomic and Physiological Performance of Pomegranate (<i>Punica granatum</i> L.) |
| title_sort | effect of deficit irrigation on agronomic and physiological performance of pomegranate i punica granatum i l |
| topic | ‘Mollar de Elche’ sustained deficit irrigation regulated deficit irrigation water productivity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/2/164 |
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