Optimizing deficit drip irrigation to improve yield,quality, and water productivity of apple in Loess Plateau of China

• DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2024.108798
• Publication Date: 2024-03-29T05:25:24Z
• Authors: Shenglin Wen; Ningbo Cui; Yaosheng Wang; Daozhi Gong; Liwen Xing; Zongjun Wu; Yixuan Zhang; Long Zhao; Junliang Fan; Zhihui Wang
• Keywords: Loess plateau

Deficit drip irrigation is an advanced agricultural technology widely promoted and applied around the world to maintain/increase yield quality while simultaneously minimizing water consumption. However, there still a lack of comprehensive research on effects deficit at different stages apple yield, productivity, quality. The aim was investigate treatments (DDITs) quality, productivity (WP), optimize strategy for apples in Loess Plateau China. two-year field experiment conducted with 17 treatments, including control treatment (CK, full (FI)) four DDITs (D15%, D30%, D45%, D60%) during bud burst leafing stage (I), flowering fruit set (II), expansion (III), maturation (IV). optimal management determined using fuzzy Borda combined model, which based single evaluation models TOPSIS method, principal component analysis (PCA), grey correlation (GCA), membership function (MFA). IV decreased midday leaf potential (Ψs) by 2.57–20.00% compared CK, difference Ψs between IV-D30%, IV-D45%, IV-D60%, CK were significant two years (P<0.05). I, II, improved weight (FW), shape index (FSI), firmness (FN), but did not significantly affect content (FWC). III enhanced total soluble solids (TSS), sugars (SS), vitamin C (Vc) 2021 2022, notable decrease titratable acidity (TA) observed. exhibited highest benefit apple, followed I had lowest values. D15%, D15% III, identified as improve WP. Our findings can guide development appropriate strategies cultivation China, promoting efficient sustainable production.