ABSTRACT
The effect of water and fertigation on canopy growth and yield on &lsquo|Thompson Navel&rsquo| oranges

Eduardo A. Holzapfel1, Claudio López2, Jean P. Joublan1 y Ricardo Matta.1
 

In the 1994/1995 season a study was carried out in an orange orchard (Citrus sinensis L.) cv. ‘Thompson Navel’, to determine the effect of application of different levels of water and fertigation using drip irrigation on the biophysical, productive and quality parameters of sixteen year old orange trees. The study was undertaken at the La Rosa-Sofruco S.A Farm, located in Peumo, Chile, (34°19’ South lat., 71º 15’ West long. at an altitude of 215 m.o.s.l.). The results showed that increasing simultaneousby the application of water and fertigation increased fruit production and quality in ‘Thompson Navel’ oranges. In relation to biophysical parameters, only diffusive resistance showed a clear response to the different treatments.

Keywords: irrigation, fertigation, citrus orchards.
1 Universidad de Concepción, Facultad de Ingeniería Agrícola, Casilla 537, Chillán, Chile. E-mail: eholzapf@udec.cl.
2 Tesis Ingeniero Agrónomo, Universidad de Concepción, Facultad de Ingeniería Agrícola.