Effects of regulated post‐harvest irrigation strategies on yield, fruit quality and water productivity in a drip‐irrigated cherry orchard

We evaluated the effects of different post‐harvest irrigation strategies on yield, fruit quality and quantity, and water productivity (WP) of sweet cherry trees, over a two‐growing season experiment. The fruits were evaluated at harvest and after cold storage. The irrigation treatments were T 0 = control (received 100% of the fruit grower irrigation); T 1, T 2 , and T 3 received 50%, 75% and 140% of T 0 . For both growing seasons, T 0 and T 3 averaged a midday stem water potential (Ψ s ) of −1.02 MPa, while that of T 1 and T 2 was at −1.13 MPa. Irrigation strategies applied affecting tree yield, fruit firmness (FF) at harvest, and WP. T 3 and T 2 had the highest and lowest yield. The best WP was found in T 1 . Growing season influenced fruit quality and quantity, and WP in the growing season 2014–2015. The irrigation treatment by growing season interaction was significant for FF. T 2 and T 3 exhibited the highest FF in the growing season 2013–2014. After cold storage, significant effects of the growing season were observed in fruit weight. Our results suggests that a moderate post‐harvest water deficit (Ψ s > −1.5 MPa), does not affect negatively, fruit quality and yield responses of cherry trees.