Deficit irrigation in mango allows to control fruit size

Agricultural drought has a significant impact on crop yields and, therefore, food security within the context of global climate change. For growing crops successfully in this adverse scenario will be crucial to adjust to less available water. The implementation of efficient water-management strategies will be is a key element to increase agricultural water productivity. This is the case for subtropical Mediterranean farming, particularly terraced mango (Mangifera indica L.) orchards in south-eastern Spain. The subtropical fruit production in this zone is possible with intensive irrigation on terraces, which are economically more profitable than traditional rainfed crops, almond and olive, which have been replaced or abandoned. Our findings have demonstrated that the highest yield and water-use efficiency were attained by reducing the ETC to 50%, and thus the greatest volumes of water did not increase fruit yield. However, the fully irrigated trees (100% ETC) produced the greatest fruit length, width and weight. In addition, the largest size was recorded with full irrigated trees, which invested the extra irrigation water in vegetative growth rather than in fruit yield. Thus, the deficit-irrigation strategies should be adopted as the most appropriate strategy in order to maximize productivity, and promote water-saving programmes in subtropical Mediterranean environment. SourcesWater saving irrigation strategies for mango (Mangifera indica L.) cultivation in the Mediterranean subtropical environmentDr. Iv?n Francisco Garc?a-Tejero, Centro IFAPA "Las Torres-Tomejil", Ctra. Sevilla-Cazalla km 12'2, 41200. Alcal? del R?o, Sevilla, Spain; ivanf.garcia@juntadeandalucia.es (presenting author)Dr. V?ctor Hugo Dur?n-Zuazo, Centro IFAPA "LasTorres-Tomejil", Ctra. Sevilla-Cazalla km 12'2, 41200 Sevilla Alcal? del R?o, Spain; victorh.duran@juntadeandalucia.es (co-author)Ms. Saray Gutierrez Gordillo, Centro IFAPA "Las Torres-Tomejil", Ctra. Sevilla-Cazalla km 12'2 , 41200 Sevilla Alcal? del R?o, Spain; saraygutierrezgordillo@gmail.com (co-author)ICH2018?Istanbul, 30th International Horticultural Congress, 12-16 August 2018, Turkey Picture -?Informe21.com - Contra la diabetes, hojas de mango