See the details of UF/IFAS research that showed that frequent irrigation this Spring can improve tree productivity.
“HLB-affected trees have small and weak root systems. These trees often experience water and nutrient deficit,” a UF/IFAS Tip of the Week article maintained. This is a problem during the dry Spring season as it “coincides with significant growth in trees.” The article shared the details of a study that looked at the impacts of frequent watering on citrus production and tree health as “Flowering, fruit set, fruit growth and leaf growth require high water availability.” See the details below.
Research Into Frequent Irrigation
According to the article, a field trial experiment that lasted two years gave two sets of trees “the same amount of water over time but differed in how often they received water and how much water they received at a time.” The research used two sets of trees that “had similar canopy volumes and densities before treatments were implemented.”
Research results showed:
- “Frequent irrigation produced more than double yield than conventional irrigation (every other day irrigation).”
- “The experimental trees had significantly larger canopies than the control…”
- “the experimental trees had significantly denser canopies than the control.”
The article concluded with the advisement that “Adequate water supply during spring and early summer (low rainfall period) is critical to ensure uninterrupted fruit development and growth for better fruit retention. The more well-watered status of frequently irrigated trees is likely to contribute to higher reproductive and vegetative growth and significantly higher yields.”
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