See the results of UF/IFAS research that compared irrigation options for young citrus trees in The Sunshine State.
Irrigation has always been an important issue for Florida citrus, as a UF/IFAS Tip of the Week article maintained that “Water scarcity is one of the major constraints in Florida citrus production systems, primarily due to erratic rainfall patterns and the low water- and nutrient-holding capacity of the predominantly sandy soils.” Add in the issues with citrus greening, and irrigation becomes more important than ever, especially for young citrus. But which irrigation method is best? Researchers with UF/IFAS did testing to compare the various irrigation options for young citrus. See the results below.
The Research on Irrigation Options for Young Citrus
The field study was conducted at the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred to “compare the effectiveness of conventional and deficit irrigation practices in improving water-and nutrient-use efficiency and performance of young HLB-affected citrus trees.” The study compared the following irrigation options for young citrus:
- “Conventional drip irrigation
- Alternate wetting and drying irrigation with reflective mulch and drip irrigation
- Conventional drip irrigation with reflective mulch (CDM)
- Microsprinkler irrigation (MS)”
Research Results
The research yielded the following results, according to the article:
- CDM exhibited “the highest sap flow or water use (up to 41.82 g/h/cm²) in summer and spring months. In addition,
- “Canopy growth and size also varied significantly, with MS showing the lowest trunk cross-sectional area and canopy volume.”
- “Fruit yield per tree and NO₃-N concentration did not differ significantly between treatments, possibly since these are still young, bearing trees.”
- “Leaf nutrient concentrations remained in the optimum range, suggesting that all systems met tree water and nutrient requirements.”
The article summarized the research with “These findings suggest that drip irrigation with reflective mulch provided physiological benefits to HLB-affected trees by enhancing canopy development and water/nutrient-use efficiency. Fruit yield was affected by environmental variables, particularly hurricanes and freezes, in addition to diseases…Commercial growers should consider using frequent irrigation and fertigation practices for young trees to save water and fertilizer and promote vigorous tree growth and development.”
Griffin Fertilizer is committed to helping both growers and ranchers make sound agronomic and economic decisions in order to maximize the health of their grove and pasture. As a full-service custom dry & liquid fertilizer blender and crop protection product distributor, we will continue our mission to further advance Florida agriculture. For questions -or concerns about your farm or pasture, contact us and one of our team will be in touch.