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Scarce water resources mainly in arid and semi-arid areas have caused an increasing interest for applying irrigation protocols aiming to reduce water spends. The effects of regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) on the performance of apricot trees (Prunus armeniaca L. cv. “Búlida”) were assessed in Murcia (SE Spain), during three consecutive growing seasons (2008-2010). The hypothesis was that RDI would not restrict yield but increase fruit quality while saving water. Two irrigation treatments were established: i) control, irrigated to fully satisfy crop water requirements (100% ETc) and ii) RDI, that reduced the amount of applied water to: a) 40% of ETc at flowering and stage I of fruit growth; b) 60% of ETc during the stage II of fruit growth and c) 50% and 25% of ETc during the late postharvest period (from 60 days after harvest). Stem water potential, gas exchanges, trunk cross-sectional area (TCSA), fruit diameter, yield and fruit quality traits were determined. Vegetative growth was decreased by the use of RDI (12% less TCSA on average for the three years), whereas yield was unaffected. In addition, some qualitative characteristics of the fruits, such as the level of soluble solids, sweetness/acidity relation and fruit colour, were improved by the use of RDI. These results and average water savings of approximately 30%, lead us to conclude that RDI strategies are a possible solution for irrigation management in areas with water shortages, such as arid and semi-arid environments.

Scarce water resources mainly in arid and semi-arid areas have caused an increasing interest for applying irrigation protocols aiming to reduce water spends. The effects of regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) on the performance of apricot trees (Prunus armeniaca L. cv. “Búlida”) were assessed in Murcia (SE Spain), during three consecutive growing seasons (2008-2010). The hypothesis was that RDI would not restrict yield but increase fruit quality while saving water. Two irrigation treatments were established: i) control, irrigated to fully satisfy crop water requirements (100% ETc) and ii) RDI, that reduced the amount of applied water to: a) 40% of ETc at flowering and stage I of fruit growth; b) 60% of ETc during the stage II of fruit growth and c) 50% and 25% of ETc during the late postharvest period (from 60 days after harvest). Stem water potential, gas exchanges, trunk cross-sectional area (TCSA), fruit diameter, yield and fruit quality traits were determined. Vegetative growth was decreased by the use of RDI (12% less TCSA on average for the three years), whereas yield was unaffected. In addition, some qualitative characteristics of the fruits, such as the level of soluble solids, sweetness/acidity relation and fruit colour, were improved by the use of RDI. These results and average water savings of approximately 30%, lead us to conclude that RDI strategies are a possible solution for irrigation management in areas with water shortages, such as arid and semi-arid environments.

Se estudiaron los efectos de estrategias de riego deficitario controlado (RDC) sobre albaricoqueros de 9 años de edad (Prunus armeniaca L. cv. “Búlida”) injertados sobre patrón franco de ‘Real Fino’. Para ello, se establecieron 2 tratamientos de riego, uno de riego control, que se regó satisfaciendo los requerimientos hídricos del cultivo (100% ETc) y un tratamiento de RDC, que consistió en reducir los aportes de agua con respecto a la ETc en los períodos no críticos en este cultivo: a) 40% de la ETc desde floración hasta el final de la primera fase de crecimiento del fruto; b) 60% de la ETc durante la segunda fase de crecimiento del fruto y c) 50% y 25% durante la post‐cosecha final (60 días después de recolección), diferenciando 2 períodos de 30 días, el primero al 50% de la ETc, y otro hasta la caída de hojas al 25% de la ETc. Los resultados obtenidos indican que el albaricoquero es una especie adecuada para realizar estrategias de RDC, debido principalmente a la clara separación entre el crecimiento vegetativo y reproductivo y, también al efecto de crecimientos compensatorios que se producen en los frutos que han estado bajo RDC, lo cual hace que finalmente no se produzcan mermas significativas de calibre. Además, ciertas características cualitativas, como el nivel en sólidos solubles, sabor y coloración de la fruta, se ven incrementadas. Estas dos razones, junto con ahorros de agua vía riego, del 39%, conducen a que estrategias de RDC puedan suponer una clara alternativa en zonas con infradotación hídrica, como es el sureste español.