Effects of Different Irrigation Amounts on Water Use of Precocious Walnuts

Abstract

Objective : To provide scientific guidance for water management of precocious walnuts. Method: With 8 years old ‘Lvling’ walnut trees as samples, 5 irrigation quantity treatments were designed, including 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 kg of water per plant for each time, respectively and the routine irrigation amount (CK) was 600 kg of water per plant for each time. During the draught stage in growing season, 3 times of irrigation were carried out, and the effects of different treatments on sap flow, water use efficiency, yield and fruit quality were compared. Results: The daily instantaneous maximum average sap flow rates were found with 60 kg of water and control; the daily highest average water use efficiency was 1.54 mmol/mol with the treatment of 30 kg water; the daily highest average leaf water potential was-1.23 MPa with control; the highest yield per plant (1.48 kg) was found with the control, and the yield of 45 kg and 60 kg water per plant one time accounted for 98.65% and 99.32% of that of control, respectively. with T1 the yield was the lowest, only accounting for 70.65% of the control. Conclusion: As the soil water contents increased, the diurnal variation curve of sap flow rates changed from unimodal to bimodal patterns in sunny days, the main peak was narrowed; the curve of diurnal variation of leaf water potential changed from "V" to "W" type; the leaf water use efficiency increased initially and then decreased later; and the nut quality was improved and the yield increased. The optimal soil water content (SWC) of 'Lvling' precocious walnuts ranged from 20.01% ~ 21.96%.