Soil-water-plant relationship and fruit yield under partial root-zone drying irrigation on banana crop

• Published in: Scientia agricola Vol. 76; no. 5; pp. 362 - 367
• Main Authors: Coelho, Eugênio Ferreira, Santos, Marcelo Rocha dos, Donato, Sérgio Luíz Rodrigues, Cruz, Jailson Lopes, Oliveira, Polyanna Mara de, Castricini, Ariane
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Escola Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz" 01-10-2019; Universidade de São Paulo
• Subjects: AGRICULTURE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY; irrigation deficit; Musa spp; vapor pressure deficit; water use efficiency; water use efficiency; irrigation deficit; Musa spp; vapor pressure deficit
• ISSN: 1678-992X; 1678-992X
• DOI: 10.1590/1678-992x-2017-0258

Climatic uncertainties have compromised water resources, which influences irrigated agriculture. Irrigation is an important alternative to mitigate the effects of water scarcity. Partial root-zone drying (PRD) is a rational use of irrigation water. This study aimed to evaluate PRD for irrigation management of banana crop, cv BRS Princesa, under semi-arid conditions in Brazil. A field experiment was carried out with five treatments: one control (full irrigation) and four with 50 % reduction of water irrigation depth (WID) and frequencies alternating the side to be irrigated of the plant row of 0, 7, 14 and 21 days. Stomatal conductance, growth, yield and soil water status were evaluated. Results indicated that banana crop cv. BRS Princesa shows shoot physiological regulation for 50 % reduction of soil water and vapor pressure deficit between 1.92 and 2.25 kPa. Decrease in yields of treatments with WID reduction compared to full irrigation is due to the reduction of root uptake rate, which is related to vapor pressure deficit and soil water availability. Partial root-zone drying saves 50 % of irrigation water and increases water use efficiency of banana cv. BRS Princesa crop by 78 %.