Deficit irrigation and emerging fruit crops as a strategy to save water in Mediterranean semiarid agrosystems

Abstract

Please cite this article in press as: Galindo, A., et al., Deficit irrigation and emerging fruit crops as a strategy to save water in Mediterranean semiarid agrosystems. Agric. Water Manage. (2017) b s t r a c tWater scarcity in Mediterranean climate areas will be progressively aggravated by climate change, population increase and urban, tourism and industrial activities. To protect water resources and their integrity for future use and to improve biodiversity, besides following advanced deficit irrigation strategies in fruit cultivation, attention could well be directed towards what are at present underused plant materials able to withstand deficit irrigation with minimum impact on yield and fruit quality. To this end, the state of the art as regards deficit irrigation strategies and the response of some very interesting emerging fruit crops [jujube (Zizyphus jujuba Mill.), loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.), pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) and pomegranate (Punica granatum L.)] are reviewed. The strengths and weaknesses of deficit irrigation strategies and the mechanisms developed by these emerging fruit crops in the face of water stress are discussed. The response of these crops to deficit irrigation, with special attention paid to the effect on yield but also on fruit quality and health-related chemical compounds, was analysed in order to assess their suitability for saving water in Mediterranean semiarid agrosystems and to analyze their potential role as alternatives to currently cultivated fruit crops with higher water requirements. Finally, the factors involved in establishing an identity brand (hydroSOS) to protect fruits obtained under specific DI conditions are discussed.

Criteria for HydroSOS Quality Index. Application to Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Processed Table Olives

“…Consequently, arid and semiarid agrosystems will be forced to cope with water scarcity and to practice sustainable agriculture. In this sense, the main strategies to cope with water scarcity are: (i) the use of improved, innovative, and precise deficit irrigation management practices which are able to minimize the impact on fruit yield and quality; and (ii) the use of plant materials with low water-demand and/or able to withstand deficit irrigation with minimum impact on yield and fruit quality [4].Deficit irrigation can improve fruit quality by raising the dry matter percentage and the levels of healthy bioactive compounds [5,6]. Among these compounds, particular mention must be made to a huge variety of secondary metabolites, mainly phenolic compounds.…”

“…Regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) is probably the most useful deficit irrigation strategy to improve water saving and, if properly applied, to increase harvest quality without or having minimum impacts in marketable yield. RDI is based in reducing irrigation, or even completely stop irrigation, during the water stress-tolerant phenological periods (non-critical periods) and supplying full irrigation during the water stress-sensitive phenological periods (critical periods) [4,9,10]. On the other hand, full irrigation consists of providing non-limiting water conditions (100% of the evapotranspiration, ET c ) to the crop during the whole cycle of the plant.Galindo et al [4] indicated that in the Mediterranean agrosystems to save water and protect the integrity of water resources, there is need for diversification of production and consumption habits.…”

“…RDI is based in reducing irrigation, or even completely stop irrigation, during the water stress-tolerant phenological periods (non-critical periods) and supplying full irrigation during the water stress-sensitive phenological periods (critical periods) [4,9,10]. On the other hand, full irrigation consists of providing non-limiting water conditions (100% of the evapotranspiration, ET c ) to the crop during the whole cycle of the plant.Galindo et al [4] indicated that in the Mediterranean agrosystems to save water and protect the integrity of water resources, there is need for diversification of production and consumption habits. These habits include the use of a broader range of plant species, such as those currently being underutilized and needing a low input of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and water.…”

“…Consequently, arid and semiarid agrosystems will be forced to cope with water scarcity and to practice sustainable agriculture. In this sense, the main strategies to cope with water scarcity are: (i) the use of improved, innovative, and precise deficit irrigation management practices which are able to minimize the impact on fruit yield and quality; and (ii) the use of plant materials with low water-demand and/or able to withstand deficit irrigation with minimum impact on yield and fruit quality [4].…”

Partial Root-Zone Drying Technique: from Water Saving to the Improvement of a Fruit Quality

“…For explaining the physiological and biochemical background of deficit irrigation methods, including PRD technique, several review papers could be recommended (Costa et al, 2007;Fereres and Soriano, 2007;Ruiz-Sanchez et al, 2010;Sepaskhah and Ahmadi, 2010;Stikić et al, 2010;Du et al, 2015;Chai et al, 2016;Galindo et al, 2017;Kang et al, 2017).…”