Influence of irrigation levels and phenological stages on yield and quality attributes of sweet cherry cv. Regina

Abstract

The study was carried out on 4-5 years old plants of sweet cherry cv. Regina grafted on Gisela-5 rootstock to determine the critical stage of specific moisture regime to maximize the yield of quality fruits. During the present study, the irrigation was applied at four different phenological stages (fruit set, pit hardening, fruit growth, and fruit bud differentiation) of sweet cherry through drip irrigation, maintaining the four moisture regimes (control, 50% ETc, 75% ETc and 100% ETc). The highest fruit weight, size, and yield were noted with 100 % (I3) ETc level of irrigation at the fruit growth stage (T3), which was statistically at par with the 75 % Etc level. The highest yield efficiency was recorded under 100 % ETc (I3) irrigation regime at the pit hardening (T2) stage. The highest content of fruit TSS was recorded in 50 % ETc level of irrigation (I1) applied at the fruit growth stage (T3). The highest fruit acidity was observed with 100 % ETc (I3) level of irrigation applied at the fruit bud differentiation stage (T4). The highest value of TSS/acidity was observed in 50 % ETc (I1) irrigation regime applied at the fruit bud differentiation stage (T4). Trees subjected to irrigation at 100 % and 75 % ETc regime during fruit growth (T3) and fruit bud differentiation stage (T4) excelled for yield and quality characteristics over other stages and moisture regimes.