Irrigation options to save water while enhancing export-size fruit and storability of 'Smooth Red' cactus pear.

BACKGROUND: A two-year study assessed deficit irrigation options for their effects on water-saving, yield, fruit quality, and postharvest performance of 'Smooth Red' cactus pear. We evaluated: (i) full irrigation (FI), (ii) partial rootzone drying (PRD), (iii) deficit irrigation (DI), and (iv) non-irrigated (NI) treatment as control.

RESULTS: The FI plants had the largest fruit size and the highest yield. PRD and DI plants used irrigation water with the highest efficiency and had the highest water productivity. The NI plants showed the highest water use efficiency in both growing seasons. Compared with FI, the yield was reduced in PRD by 5.5% in 2005 and by 7.8% in 2006. The corresponding reductions for DI were 6.0% and 7.4%, respectively. The NI plants had the lowest percentage of marketable yield. The PRD and DI treatments did not negatively affect fruit quality attributes either at harvest or after storage compared with FI and NI fruits. Fruit water loss tended to be lower in FI, PRD, and DI fruits.

CONCLUSIONS: This study was aimed at obtaining the maximum yield per unit of water applied instead of maximizing the yield per unit of area. We therefore recommend PRD or DI as feasible irrigation options for sustainable production of cactus pear. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.