Location: Chile
Soil erosion, runoff and nutrient losses in an avocado (Persea americana Mill) hillside orchard under different groundcover management systems
Assess the influence of different groundcover management systems on erosion and runoff processes associated with extremely steep hillside avocado (Persea americana Mill) orchards, in a Mediterranean climate with high rainfall variability. We compared several groundcover management systems at a steep hillside avocado planting in a three-year study: 1) Bare soil (BS), pre- and post-emergence herbicides; 2) Vegetation strip (VS), post-emergence herbicide applied in a 1-m wide strip on the tree row plus
Optimal irrigation management for avocado (cv. 'Hass') trees by monitoring soil water content and plant water status
Irrigation scheduling based on soil water content (Ɵw) sensors requires that Ɵw be maintained within a range (management lines) that is optimal for plant growth. The lower limit or “breaking point” is determined following the soil water content dynamics on the transition of a rapid rate of depletion to a slower, under similar reference evapotranspiration. Although this criterion is practical, its implementation should be validated with plant water status measurement that contemplate weather
Evaluation of aerial and root plant growth behavior, water and nutrient use efficiency and carbohydrate dynamics for Hass avocado grown in a soilless and protected growing system
Avocado production is nowadays questioned worldwide and at risk due to climate change and the high water footprint of this crop. Thus, there is need for the development or adoption of new strategies such as alternative production systems. In this study, Hass avocado plants grafted on two rootstocks (Mexicola -seed propagated and Dusa® - vegetative-propagated and referred as clonal) were grown in a greenhouse and substrate (coir growth container, 55 L of volume and 500 × 480 mm, H X W) culture
Improving Soil Oxygenation with Hydrogen Peroxide Injection into Heavy Clay Loam Soil: Effect on Plant Water Status, CO2 Assimilation and Biomass of Avocado Trees
Commercial avocado production in Chile has expanded to areas with poorly drained soils presenting low oxygenation over significant periods of time throughout the year. In many of these areas, irrigation management is difficult because plantations are often placed on slopes of hills. Poorly aerated soils combined with irrigation design and management problems can limit avocado fruit production and quality, particularly if hypoxia stress occurs between spring and the beginning of summer. It is well
Effect of soil water-to-air ratio on biomass and mineral nutrition of avocado trees
In Chile, expansion of avocado production has resulted in many orchards established in marginal soils that are poorly drained and have high soil water-to-air ratios when soil moisture is at field capacity. However, avocado trees are sensitive to poor soil aeration. A study was conducted to determine the effects of different soil water-to-air ratios (W/A) on biomass and nutrient content of avocado trees. Two-year-old avocado trees were grown for 2 seasons in containers in soils, with different W/A,
Effect of soil available water depletion on plant water status, fruit size and yield of avocado trees cv. 'HASS'
The objective of this study was to define the soil available water depletion (SAWD) in avocado, in order to use it as a criterion for irrigation programs in soils of fine texture and low aeration capacity. to determine appropriately the fraction of soil SAWD we performed three independent trials: Trial 1: We evaluated two treatments: T1, irrigation to 100% ETc and then without irrigation for 13 days, until the SAWD reached 60%, and T2: daily irrigation replacing 100% of the evapotranspiration of