ENHANCING WATER USE EFFICIENCY OF "LE CONTE"PEAR TREES UNDER DESERT SOIL CONDITIONS

Abstract

This study carried out during three successive seasons 2015, 2016 and 2017 on "Le-Conte" pear trees grafted on Pyrus comunis and growing in loamy sand soil under drip irrigation system, to investigate the effects of water regime treatments (50%, 75% and 100% of crop water requirement (CWR) as well as anti-transpiration materials (Kaolin and Green Miracle) or black polyethylene mulch which used as additional treatment to enhance water use efficiency. The first season was considered to be as a preliminary season to eliminate the residual effects of the previously used irrigation treatment. Results showed that although the highest irrigation rate gave the highest fruit set, yield and fruit weight, the additional treatments under 75 % of CWR produced the same significantly results in comparison with trees received 100 % of CWR without any additional treatments. While firmness and TSS increased with decreasing the irrigation rate. Furthermore add kaolin improved TSS and firmness.