Microsprinkler irrigation influences clementine fruit quality, leaf temperature and physiology

The effect on leaf physiology and fruit quality, of two irrigation schedules, everyday and twice a week irrigation (control), were tested on ‘SRA 63’ Clementine (Citrus reticulata Blanco) during 2002 and 2003. Micrometeorological data revealed a higher impact of everyday irrigation on air and leaf temperature compared to control. While in 2002 everyday irrigation treatment, reduced air temperature up to 3.4 °C with respect to control, in 2003 the cooling effect was stronger, with reductions of air temperature up to 9 °C as compared to control. In 2002, gas-exchange related parameters were little influenced by daily undertree microsprinkler irrigation, on the contrary, in 2003 net photosynthetic rates were significantly increased by daily irrigation with respect to control.