WATER USE, TREE GROWTH AND LEAF MINERAL NUTRIENTS OF YOUNG ´FUJI´ APPLES AS INFLUENCED BY DIFFERENT IRRIGATION SYSTEMS

Water usage, tree growth, and leaf mineral nutrients in ‘Autumn Rose Fuji’ apple (Malus x domestica Borkh) with five irrigation systems and in ‘Desert Rose Fuji’ apple with two irrigation systems during early years of planting were studied in 2002 and 2003. Trees with Full Sprinkler (FS) and Partial Root-Zone Drying Sprinkler (PRDS) systems received significantly more water than those with drip systems. Total of 4,497 L of water was applied to each tree with FS system while 1,419 L was applied to each tree with full drip system during 2003. ‘Autumn Rose Fuji’ trees with Partial Root-Zone Drying Drip (PRDD) had smaller TCSA than those with other treatments at the end of 2003. In 2003, ‘Autumn Rose Fuji’ trees with FS system had significantly higher leaf K than those with PRDS, Above Ground Full Drip (AGFD) and PRDD. In ‘Desert Rose Fuji’, size of tree with Buried Double Full Drip (BDFD) was similar to those of Buried Single Drip system (BSD) at the end of both 2002 and 2003 growing seasons. In 2002, ‘Desert Rose Fuji’ trees with BSD treatment had significantly lower leaf N than did those with BDFD treatment. Trees with BSD irrigation treatment had lower leaf Zn and Cu, but higher leaf Mn than those with BDFD treatment in both 2002 and 2003.