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Long-term effects of saline irrigation water on Valencia orange trees: relationships between growth and yield, and salt levels in soil and leaves
Citation
Prior, LD and Grieve, AM and Bevington, KB and Slavich, PG, Long-term effects of saline irrigation water on Valencia orange trees: relationships between growth and yield, and salt levels in soil and leaves, Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 58, (4) pp. 349-358. ISSN 0004-9409 (2007) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
Copyright © CSIRO 2007
DOI: doi:10.1071/AR06199
Abstract
This study documents changes in yield, growth, soil salinity (ECe) and leaf sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl) concentrations in mature Valencia orange [Citrus sinensis (L.Osbeck)] trees on sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) rootstock in response to increased levels of Na and Cl in irrigation water. Four levels of salt, ranging from the river-water control (0.44 dS/m) to 2.50 dS/m, were applied over a 9-year period through an under-tree microsprinkler system to trees in the Sunraysia area of the Murray Valley in south-eastern Australia. A salt-balance model showed that evapotranspiration was reduced by salinity, whereas leaching fractions increased from an average 24% in the control to 51% in the most saline treatment. The high leaching fractions were achieved as a result of freely draining soils and good irrigation management, and allowed us to maintain low to moderate levels of soil salinity throughout the trial and minimised the effect of salt treatment on fruit yield. Soil salinity increased almost linearly in response to irrigation-water salinity during the first year, and fluctuated seasonally thereafter; however, very few readings exceeded 3 dS/m, even in the highest treatments. By contrast, leaf Na and Cl concentrations in the highest salt treatment continued to increase over the first 4 years. The relationship between yield and soil salinity was extremely weak, but yield did decrease as foliar concentrations of Na and Cl increased: in Year 9, leaf Na in the highest treatment relative to the control was associated with a predicted reduction of 17% in yield and 59% in annual trunk-diameter growth.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Keywords: | salinity, citrus, leaching, nutrients, nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus. |
Research Division: | Agricultural, Veterinary and Food Sciences |
Research Group: | Agriculture, land and farm management |
Research Field: | Agricultural hydrology |
Objective Division: | Environmental Management |
Objective Group: | Terrestrial systems and management |
Objective Field: | Terrestrial systems and management not elsewhere classified |
UTAS Author: | Prior, LD (Dr Lynda Prior) |
ID Code: | 72691 |
Year Published: | 2007 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 38 |
Deposited By: | Research Division |
Deposited On: | 2011-08-30 |
Last Modified: | 2011-09-30 |
Downloads: | 2 View Download Statistics |
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