Resposta da cultura de lima ácida ‘Tahiti’ a diferentes níveis de irrigação.

Abstract

The aim of this work was evaluate the effect of different irrigation levels on canopy and root growth, productivity and quality of fruit of young ‘Tahiti’ acid lime trees, under drip irrigation. The experiment was conducted during August 2002 - May 2005 in Piracicaba, Sao Paulo State, Brazil. Each treatment was assigned to different irrigation level, based on ETc as follows: non-irrigated, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of ETc (weighting lysimeter). The trunk diameter and height tree were evaluated monthly. The roots were evaluated when the trees were 30 and 48 months old. Adopted during the first sampling were 4 horizontal distances from tree trunk (0.3 to 1.2 m) and 2 depths (0.0-0.3 and 0.3-0.6 m). Adopted during the second sampling were 5 horizontal distances from trunk (0.3 to 1.5 m), and 3 depths (0.0-0.3, 0.3-0.6 and 0.6-0.9 m). The yield was evaluated by measuring weight and number of fruits per tree. The quality of the yield was evaluated by measuring fruit diameter, rind thickness, % of juice, total soluble solids, pH and total acidity. The results showed that young trees irrigated with 100% ETc resulted in higher growth. With trees that was 33 months old, irrigation influenced root distribution in roots distance horizontal. Irrigation with 25% of crop evapotranspiration induced earlier yield, and increased yield and number of fruits per tree. Irrigation did not improve the quality of fruit.