Hazelnut is a traditional crop in some areas of Camp de Tarragona, Catalonia, and also in other areas including Priorat and Conca de Barberà. The main limiting factors for hazelnut production are low rainfall and limited water availability. Drip irrigation is the main system used in most orchards. This system has two main limitations: (a) unsuitable water supply (the irrigation period does not match the physiological process); and (b) deficient management (very limited wet soil volume). In an attempt to deal with these two main limitations, two field experiments were conducted during 2000-02 on two plots with different soils, i.e. loamy soil at Alcover and sandy soil at La Selva del Camp. Both plots are commercial orchards in full production with Pauetet as the main cultivar and Gironell as the pollinator at Alcover and Negret at La Selva del Camp. The effects of the different irrigation strategies: (E-1) irrigation from April to September; (E-2) irrigation from June to September; (E-3) irrigation from April to September with a 30% water supply reduction in summer; and (E-4) irrigation from April to September with a 60% water supply reduction in summer, on the production and harvest quality of hazelnut. The productive and vegetative responses of hazelnut trees after being irrigated with different wet soil volume (WSV), 6, 13, 25 and 57%, are also presented. The results obtained under these agroclimatic conditions showed that E-1 with water supplied throughout the hazelnut's annual physiological cycle (vegetative, reproductive cycle) provided a good productive response (kg kernel/ha) and also a good kernel quality (kg kernel/ha>12 mm). E-2 affected the physiological phases and reduced kernel quality (kg kernel/ha>12 mm). E-4 caused a fall in the production (kg kernel/ha) and also a significant lower quality (kg kernel/ha>12 mm). The best productive response (kg kernel/ha) and vegetative growth (mm/year) obtained was ~20-40% (WSV) with respect to total potential volume explored by roots. The E-2 and E-3 strategies produced similar levels of water saving (15%) in relation to E-1. However, the highest levels of efficiency were obtained when E-3 was applied.

crop production, crop quality, crop yield, hazelnuts,irrigation scheduling, irrigation systems, plant physiology, plant waterrelations, water use efficiency, Spain, Corylus, Corylus avellana,Corylus, Betulaceae, Fagales, dicotyledons, angiosperms, Spermatophyta,plants, Southern Europe, Europe, Mediterranean Region, DevelopedCountries, European Union Countries, OECD Countries, Horticultural Crops(FF003) (New March 2000), Plant Water Relations (FF062), PlantProduction (FF100), Soil Water Management (Irrigation and Drainage)(JJ800) (Revised June 2002) [formerly Soil Water Management], CropProduce (QQ050), Food Composition and Quality (QQ500)

• Journal Article

• Irrigation Management