This study was conducted to determine the effects of deficit irrigation applied in different periods to dwarf rootstock apple trees (cv. 'Braeburn')on vegetative development, yield, fruit quality and marketable yield for three years (2010)(2011)(2012). There were six different treatments (none deficit irrigation, T 1 ; continuous deficit irrigation, T 2 ; deficit irrigation between the 40 th and 70 th days after full bloom, DAFB, T 3 ; deficit irrigation between the 70 th and 100 th DAFB, T 4 ; deficit irrigation between the 100 th and 130 th DAFB, T 5 ; deficit irrigation between the 130 th and 160 th DAFB, T 6 ). It was determined that short-term (30 days) deficit irrigation treatments during growing season resulted in decrease for vegetative development and yield. The apples that have both the highest marketable yield and the highest red colour density were obtained from T 3 in deficit irrigation treatments. T 3 treatments saved irrigation water according to T 1 treatment in study years (12.4%, 14.4% and 15.2 respectively). For more efficient use of water resources in case of limited irrigation water, T 3 treatment was found to be recommendable for apple growers because it not only saves water but also affects yield and fruit quality least.
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