Category: Water management
Soil air content effects on the water status of avocado trees
Avocado trees evolved in Andisoils, which are considered the optimum type of soils for tree growth due to their physical properties; mainly low bulk density (0.5 - 0.8 g cm(-3)) and high macro porosity (similar to 46%). In Chile, avocado orchards are mostly located in fine textured soils, with bulk densities between 1.3 and 1.5 g cm(-3) and macro porosities close to 15%. Due to this fact, there are severe problems of poor root aeration which, in part, are responsible for the low production levels
Avocado cv. Hass Needs Water Irrigation in Tropical Precipitation Regime: Evidence from Colombia
The primary natural source of water for the Hass avocado crop in the tropics is precipitation. However, this is insufficient to provide most crops’ water requirements due to the spatial and temporal variability. This study aims to demonstrate that Hass avocado requires irrigation in Colombia, and this is done by analyzing the dynamics of local precipitation regimes and the influence of Intertropical Convergence Zone phenomena (ITCZ) on the irrigation requirement (IR). This study was carried out
Surface soil water content as an indicator of Hass avocado irrigation scheduling
This study aims to determine whether Hass avocado irrigation can be triggered based on the surface soil water content (SSWC). To address this question, the soil water dynamics from three Hass avocado orchard plots located in Valle del Cauca (Colombia) was simulated using a model provided by Hydrus-1D software, which was calibrated through the genetic algorithm NSGA-II and validated using the soil matric potential measured at several depths at nine monitoring stations installed in the three plots.
Growth, photosynthetic performance and antioxidative response of ‘Hass’ and ‘Fuerte’ avocado (Persea americana Mill.) plants grown under high soil moisture
‘Hass’ and ‘Fuerte’ avocado plants were grown under well-watered or waterlogged conditions. Results indicated significant effects on the majority of the allometric parameters in waterlogged plants, with ‘Fuerte’ displaying a more pronounced growth inhibition. Waterlogged conditions caused a progressive and simultaneous decline in net photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance, earlier in ‘Fuerte’ than in ‘Hass’. Maximal potential quantum yield of PSII was unaffected by the soil
Bioenergetics, respiration cost and water relations of developing avocado fruit
Avocado fruit of cultivars with different susceptibility to physiological fruit disorders were examined in situ for respiration, stomatal conductance, transpiration and xylem water potential. Therein, attached fruit of cv. Fuerte (susceptible to mesocarp discolouration) were compared with Hass (susceptible to small fruit) over the 3-month period from anthesis until the fruit reached 60 g fresh matter:1. Avocado fruit respired more CO2 in the dark than in the light due to fruit photosynthesis. Respiration
Global virtual water trade of avocado
This paper investigates the relationship between international trade of avocado and the related virtual water trade over the period 2000–2016. Using a Physical Trade Analysis, we show that commercial and virtual water trade grew rapidly moving almost hand-in-hand in the years taken into account: in parallel with a remarkable increase of international trade of avocado from 0.4 Mt in 2000 to 1.9 Mt in 2016, the global virtual water trade of avocado increased from 408 Mm³ to 2238 Mm³ over the same