The Effect of Reduced Water Supply on Peach Tree Growth and Yields1

A range of irrigation levels was compared in specific periods of fruit development to determine their suitability for control of tree vigor and yields in ultra-dense orchards of peach [ Prunus persica L. Batsch] trees. Where trees in the 3rd leaf were trickle-irrigated with 4 levels (100, 50, 25, and 12.5%) of replacement of E ps (evaporation over the planting square) during the period of rapid vegetative growth, both frame and fruit growth declined as irrigation quantity decreased. In the following period of maximum fruit growth, 130% of E ps replacement increased vegetative growth but not fruit growth compared to 100% E ps . The fruit, however, grew faster in this period on those trees which had received low levels of E ps replacement in the earlier period of maximum vegetative growth. The net result was similar final fruit size and yield between treatments, combined with control of vegetative growth at the lower levels of E ps . A large saving in irrigation water was obtained at the lower levels of replacement of E ps .