Title

Effect of Alternate Partial Root-Zone Irrigation and Infiltrating Irrigation on Photosynthetic Characteristics and Yield of Jujube Trees

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2014

Abstract

At present, irrigation in Ziziphus Jujuba orchards around Tarim basin in Xinjiang Province, China, is mainly surface irrigation. Due to outdated irrigation technology and low irrigation efficiency, the fruit yields are low, which seriously affects sound development of local special forest fruit industry in Xinjiang. Infiltrating irrigation technology has favorable water-saving effects and studying its impact on the physiological and yield variation of Jujube trees would therefore greatly assist the development of the Jujube industry in Xinjiang China. Several ten-year-old Jujube trees were selected in Akesu area of Xinjiang to investigate the effects of different water-saving irrigation methods on their physiology and yield. Diurnal variation of photosynthetic capacity in Jujube leaves during florescence, young fruit and fruit expanding stages and Jujube yield were measured under 6000m3/ha of alternate partial root-zone irrigation and conventional infiltrating irrigation. The results indicated that: (1) the diurnal variation of net photosynthetic rate in Jujube leaves presented a bimodal curve with a midday depression phenomenon. The diurnal variation of transpiration rate appeared to single peak type. The diurnal variation of water use efficiency was a single-valley curve. The stomatal conductance varied during the growth season; (2) under conventional irrigation, the net photosynthesis rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate increased with increased irrigation volume; and (3) with the same irrigation volume, the root-divided alternative irrigation, compared with conventional irrigation, reduced leaf transpiration rate and increased leaf net photosynthesis rate and water use efficiency, resulting in an increase of Jujube yield by 11% per hectare. The study showed that root-divided alternative irrigation could save water consumption and increase Jujube yield.

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