Influenza della posizione degli erogatori sulle componenti dello sviluppo e della produzione nell'arancio «Valencia»: risultati preliminari

In this study two irrigation systems (drip and microjet) and different positions of emitters were
compared in a young «Frost Valencia» orange grove.
The following irrigation treatments were set out:
- two drippers (4 l/h each) per tree at apposite distance of 1 m trom the trunk:
- two drippers (4 l/h each) per tree at apposite distance of 0.5 m from the trunk;
- two microjets (65 l/h) per tree at apposite distance of 0.2 m from the trunk.
Both the irrigation systems were able to wet a 3 m strip of soil along the rows, while thc central
part of interrows was kept dry.
Among the wet area drip irrigation induced different soil moisture pattern, since the soil moisture
percentage was greater near the emitters (more than the «field capacity») and particularly at
50 cm depth; and decreased as the distance trom the drippers increased.
The water distribution under the microjets resulted more uniform and the soil moisture reached
the highest values at 25 cm soil depth, alwais close to the emitters.
Leaf water potential and leat diffusive resistance measured at different times did not show any
symptom af water-stress, while trunk growth resulted not affected by different irrigation treatments.