The Effect of Deficit Irrigation and Regulated Deficit Irrigation on Yield and Water Productivity of the Watermelon

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

• N. Bahremand ¹
• H. Aroiee ¹
• A. Aien ²

¹ , Department of Horticultural Science and Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

² Research Department of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Research and Education Center of Agriculture and Natural Resources in the South of Kerman Province, Jiroft, Iran

10.22067/jsw.2024.89774.1436

Abstract

Introduction
Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is a widely recognized product with high demand, nutritional value, and export potential worldwide. Since the ultimate goal of agricultural production systems is to maximize plant yield, providing sufficient water to the plant is one of the most critical factors influencing yield. Therefore, investigating the effects of water limitation is an essential and undeniable necessity. On the other hand, deficit irrigation has been introduced as an approach to increase water productivity. Therefore, it is essential to consider the effects of this water-saving method on plant production, which highlights the need for further research. Deficit irrigation involves supplying only a portion of the plant's water requirements, while regulated deficit irrigation is a specific type of deficit irrigation that can be applied in various ways, such as irrigation based on growth stages, or allocating water to stages that are more sensitive to drought. It is important to recognize that plant response to water deficit depends on several factors, including climatic conditions, plant type, the intensity and method of deficit irrigation application, soil condition, and management practices.
 
Materials and Methods
In order to determine the effect of deficit irrigation and regulated deficit irrigation on yield and water productivity of the watermelon, an experiment in the form of randomized complete blocks with 8 treatments including three irrigation levels of 100, 70 and 50 % of the plant's water requirement (evapotranspiration estimated by the FAO-Penman-Monteith method) and 5 regulated deficit irrigation levels including 50% of the water requirement in the stages of seedling, vine, flowering, fruit expansion and fruit maturity were carried out with three replications under black plastic mulch, during 2020-2022, in the Research and Education Center of Agriculture and Natural Resources in the south of Kerman province. Irrigation as the main plot at three levels of 100, 70 and 50% of water requirement and mulching at three levels of crushed date palm leaf, black plastic and no mulch, as the sub-plot, were considered. Crimson B 34 watermelon seeds produced by Seminis company, were planted on January 2021, in plots with the size of 13.5 × 7 m, on furrows and ridges planting system (the width of furrows and ridges were 0.5 and 4 meters, respectively). After planting, bow-shaped wires were put on the planting rows and a transparent plastic was placed as a tunnel on them. In the first year, the total depth of the irrigations in aforesaid treatments were respectively 444, 321, 237, 413, 389, 435, 345 and 425, and in the second year 427, 303, 223, 395, 373, 416, 331 and 405 mm.
Results and Discussion
The results showed that the highest and lowest yield were observed in full irrigation and irrigation 50 % (60.1 and 16.3 t ha^-1 respectively). Among the regulated deficit irrigation treatments, irrigation 50% at the seedling stage was the closest to full irrigation, and the irrigation 50 % at the fruit expansion stage had the lowest yield. The highest water productivity belonged to the irrigation 50 % in the seedling and vine stages (15.9 and 1.15 kg m^-3 respectively). Irrigation 50% at fruit maturity stage despite half irrigation, improved Qualitative characteristics such as soluble solids, vitamin C, dry matter, lycopene and fruit taste.
 
Conclusion
Applying deficit irrigation led to a significant decrease in watermelon yield compared to full irrigation (control). Water productivity remained nearly constant, and there was no significant improvement in the quality of the edible part. However, treatments involving regulated deficit irrigation, such as irrigation during the seedling stage, showed similar yield to full irrigation, while the 50% irrigation during the vine stage resulted in higher water productivity. Additionally, 50% irrigation during the fruit maturity stage produced superior fruit quality compared to the control. Overall, regulated deficit irrigation yielded better results than deficit irrigation due to less yield reduction, increased water productivity, and improved fruit quality, especially under water-restricted conditions. Finally, it is recommended that milder intensities of deficit irrigation that seem to have more favorable results in this plant should be investigated in the next studies.

Keywords

• Growth stages
• Lycopene
• Vitamin C
• Water requirement

Main Subjects

• Irrigation

©2024 The author(s). This is an open access article distributed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).

References

1. Abbasi, F., & Abbasi, N. (2024). An analysis of irrigation efficiencies over time in Iran. Iranian Journal of Irrigation & Drainage, 17(6), 1025-1033. (In Persian with English abstract). https://idj.iaid.ir/article_189534.html?lang=en
2. Abbasi, F., Akbari, M., Nasseri, A., Abbassi, N., Baghani, J., Joleini, M., Shahrokhnia, M.A., Nakhjavanimoghaddam, M.M., Sepehri Sadeghian, S., Moayeri, M., Hassanoghli, A., Haghayeghi, A., Ghadami Firouzabadi, A., mousavifazl, S.H., & Yazdani, M. (2024). A review of water consumption management indicators of different crops in Iran. Irrigation and Drainage Structures Engineering Research, 25(94), 1-16. (In Persian with English abstract). https://doi.org/10.22092/idser.2024.364605.1569
3. Abdelkhalik, A., Pascual, B., Najera, I., Domene, M.A., Baixauli, C., & Pascual-Seva, N. (2020). Effects of deficit irrigation on the yield and irrigation water use efficiency of drip-irrigated sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum) under Mediterranean conditions. Irrigation Science, 38, 89-104. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-019-00655-1
4. Abdelkhalik, A., Pascual-Seva, N., Najera, I., Giner, A., Baixauli, C., & Pascual, B. (2019). Yield response of seedless watermelon to different drip irrigation strategies under Mediterranean conditions. Agricultural Water Management, 212, 99-110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2018.08.044
5. Allakonon, M.G.B., Zakari, S., Tovihoudji, P.G., Fatondji, A.S., & Akponikpè, P.I. (2022). Grain yield, actual evapotranspiration and water productivity responses of maize crop to deficit irrigation: A global meta-analysis. Agricultural Water Management, 270, 107746. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2022.107746
6. Allen, R.G. (1998). Crop evapotranspiration. FAO irrigation and drainage paper, 56, 60-64. https://doi.org/10.3178/jjshwr.16.589
7. Arya, S.P., Mahajan, M., & Jain, P. (2000). Non-spectrophotometric methods for the determination of Vitamin C. Analytica Chimica Acta, 417(1), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0003-2670(00)00909-0
8. Ayele, B.G., Asseffa, S., & Tuhar, A.W. (2023). Effect of deficit irrigation under furrow irrigation techniques on garlic (Allium sativum) productivity at the central highland of Ethiopia. Water-Energy Nexus, 6, 32-45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wen.2023.07.001
9. Bang, H., Leskovar, D.I., Bender, D.A., & Crosby, K. (2004). Deficit irrigation impact on lycopene, soluble solids, firmness and yield of diploid and triploid watermelon in three distinct environments. The Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology, 79(6), 885-890. https://doi.org/10.1080/14620316.2004.11511861
10. Bikdeloo, M., Colla, G., Rouphael, Y., Hassandokht, M.R., Soltani, F., Salehi, R., Kumar, P., & Cardarelli, M. (2021). Morphological and physio-biochemical responses of watermelon grafted onto rootstocks of wild watermelon [Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad] and commercial interspecific cucurbita hybrid to drought stress. Horticulturae, 7(10), 359. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae7100359
11. Carillo, P., & Gibon, Y. (2011). Protocol: Extraction and determination of proline. PrometheusWiki, 1-5.
12. Chai, Q., Gan, Y., Zhao, C., Xu, H.L., Waskom, R.M., Niu, Y., & Siddique, K.H. (2016). Regulated deficit irrigation for crop production under drought stress. A review. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 36, 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-015-0338-6
13. Comas, L.H., Trout, T.J., DeJonge, K.C., Zhang, H., & Gleason, S.M. (2019). Water productivity under strategic in maize. Agricultural Water Management, 212, 433-440. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2018.07.015
14. Du, T., Kang, S., Zhang, J., & Davies, W.J. (2015). Deficit irrigation and sustainable water-resource strategies in agriculture for China’s food security. Journal of Experimental Botany, 66(8), 2253-2269. https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erv034
15. Emam, Y., Shekoofa, A., Salehi, F., & Jalali, A.H. (2010). Water stress effects on two common bean cultivars with contrasting growth habits. American-Eurasian Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, 9(5), 495-499.
16. Erdem, Y., & Yuksel, A.N. (2003). Yield response of watermelon to irrigation shortage. Scientia Horticulturae, 98(4), 365-383. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-4238(03)00019-0
17. Fish, W.W., Perkins-Veazie, P., & Collins, J.K. (2002). A quantitative assay for lycopene that utilizes reduced volumes of organic solvents. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 15(3), 309-317. https://doi.org/10.1006/jfca.2002.1069
18. Gao, Q.H., Yu, J.G., Wu, C.S., Wang, Z.S., Wang, Y.K., Zhu, D.L., & Wang, M. (2014). Comparison of drip, pipe and surge spring root irrigation for jujube (Ziziphus jujuba ) fruit quality in the Loess Plateau of China. PloS one, 9(2), 88912. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0088912
19. Giannopolitis, C.N., & Ries, S.K. (1977). Superoxide dismutases: I. Occurrence in higher plants. Plant Physiology, 59(2), 309-314. https://org/10.1104/pp.59.2.309
20. Hou, H., Yang, Y., Han, Z., Cai, H., & Li, Z. (2019). Deficit irrigation effectively reduces soil carbon dioxide emissions from wheat fields in Northwest China. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 99(12), 5401-5408. https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.9800
21. Jafari, H., & Abbasi, F. (2023). Introducing and evaluation of relative economic water productivity index. Iranian Journal of Soil and Water Research, 54(7), 1095-1114. (In Persian with English abstract). https://doi.org/10.22059/ijswr.2023.358941.669495
22. Jefferies, R.A., & Mackerron, D.K.L. (1993). Responses of potato genotypes to drought. II. Leaf area index, growth and yield. Annals of Applied Biology, 122(1), 105-112. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-7348.1993.tb04018.x
23. Jing, D., Liu, B., Ma, H., Liu, F., Liu, X., & Ren, L. (2023). Effects of inoculation with different plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria on the eco-physiological and stomatal characteristics of walnut seedlings under drought stress. Agronomy, 13(6), 1486. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13061486
24. Khanthavong, P., Yabuta, S., Asai, H., Hossain, M. A., Akagi, I., & Sakagami, J.I. (2021). Root response to soil water status via interaction of crop genotype and environment. Agronomy, 11(4), 708. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11040708
25. Kuscu, H., Turhan, A.H.M.E.T., Ozmen, N., Aydinol, P., Buyukcangaz, H., & Demir, A.O., (2015). Deficit irrigation effects on watermelon (Citrullus vulgaris) in a sub humid environment. Journal of Animal & Plant Sciences, 25(6), 1652-1659.
26. Lichtenthaler, H.K., & Buschmann, C. (2001). Chlorophylls and carotenoids: Measurement and characterization by UV‐VIS spectroscopy. Current Protocols in Food Analytical Chemistry, 1(1), F4-3. https://doi.org/10.1002/0471142913.faf0403s01
27. Liu, J.X., Zhang, R., Cheng, Z.Y., Li, M., Cheng, N.N., Ma, Q.M., & Dai, W.Y. (2016). Effect research of water deficit in different growth stage on wine grape yield and quality. Journal Agricultural Research in the Arid Areas, 34, 78-83.
28. Liu, L., Mo, Y., Yang, X., Li, X., Wu, M., Zhang, X., & Li, H. (2014). Reasonable drip irrigation frequency improving watermelon yield and quality under regulated deficit irrigation in plastic greenhouse. Transactions of the Chinese Society of Agricultural Engineering, 30(24), 95-104.
29. Meddich, A., Ait Rahou, Y., Boutasknit, A., Ait-El-Mokhtar, M., Fakhech, A., Lahbouki, S., & Wahbi, S. (2022). Role of mycorrhizal fungi in improving the tolerance of melon (Cucumus melon) under two water deficit partial root drying and regulated deficit irrigation. Plant Biosystems-An International Journal Dealing with all Aspects of Plant Biology, 156(2), 469-479. https://doi.org/10.1080/11263504.2021.1881644
30. Miceli, A., Vetrano, F., Torta, L., Esposito, A., & Moncada, A. (2023). Effect of Mycorrhizal Inoculation on Melon Plants under Deficit Irrigation Regimes. Agronomy, 13(2), 440. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13020440
31. Muhie, S.H., Akele, F., & Yeshiwas, T. (2024). Economic feasibility of carrot (Daucus carota) production in response to different seed priming techniques under deficit irrigation. Scientia Horticulturae, 325, 112662. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2023.112662
32. Mukherjee, S., Dash, P.K., Das, D., & Das, S. (2023). Growth, yield and water productivity of tomato as influenced by deficit irrigation water management. Environmental Processes, 10(1), 10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40710-023-00624-z
33. Ozmen, S., Kanber, R., Sarı, N., & Unlu, M. (2015). The effects of deficit irrigation on nitrogen consumption, yield, and quality in drip irrigated grafted and ungrafted watermelon. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 14(5), 966-976. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2095-3119(14)60870-4
34. Rouphael, Y., Cardarelli, M., Colla, G., & Rea, E. (2008). Yield, mineral composition, water relations, and water use efficiency of grafted mini-watermelon plants under deficit irrigation. HortScience, 43(3), 730-736.
35. Shohat, H., Eliaz, N.I., & Weiss, D. (2021). Gibberellin in tomato: Metabolism, signaling and role in drought responses. Molecular Horticulture, 1(1), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.43.3.730
36. Silva, J.M., da Silva Junior, G.B., Bonifácio, A., Dutra, A.F., de Mello Prado, R., de Alcantara Neto, F., & de Sousa, R.S. (2023). Exogenous salicylic acid alleviates water stress in watermelon plants. Annals of Applied Biology, 182(1), 121-130. https://doi.org/10.1111/aab.12802.
37. Slinkard, K., & Singleton, V.L. (1977). Total phenol analysis: automation and comparison with manual methods. American Journal of Enology and Viticulture, 28(1), 49-55. https://doi.org/10.5344/ajev.1977.28.1.49
38. Smart, R.E., & Bingham, G.E. (1974). Rapid estimates of relative water content. Plant Physiology, 53(2), 258-260. https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.53.2.258
39. Tian, X., & Lei, Y. (2006). Nitric oxide treatment alleviates drought stress in wheat seedlings. Biologia Plantarum, 50, 775-778. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10535-006-0129-7
40. Turner, N.C. (1990). Plant water relations and irrigation management. Agricultural Water Management, 17(1-3), 59-73. https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-3774(90)90056-5
41. Wang, F., Kang, S.Z., & Wang, Z.C. (2007). Effects of regulated deficit irrigation on water use efficiency, yield and quality of watermelon in Minqin county of Gansu province. Agricultural Research in the Arid Areas, 25(4), 123-129.
42. Wang, Z., Yu, S., Zhang, H., Lei, L., Liang, C., Chen, L., & Li, X. (2023). Deficit mulched drip irrigation improves yield, quality, and water use efficiency of watermelon in a desert oasis region. Agricultural Water Management, 277, 108103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2022.108103
43. Xu, J., Wan, W., Zhu, X., Zhao, Y., Chai, Y., Guan, S., & Diao, M. (2023). Effect of regulated deficit irrigation on the growth, yield, and irrigation water productivity of processing tomatoes under drip irrigation and mulching. Agronomy, 13(12), 2862. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13122862
44. Yang, H., Du, T., Qiu, R., Chen, J., Wang, F., Li, Y., & Kang, S. (2017). Improved water use efficiency and fruit quality of greenhouse crops under regulated deficit irrigation in northwest China. Agricultural Water Management, 179, 193-204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2016.05.029
45. Yang, P., & He, S. (2022). The effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and deficit irrigation on the yield and sugar content of watermelons (Citrullus lanatus). Horticultural Science, 49(4), 225-233. https://doi.org/10.17221/108/2021-HORTSCI
46. Yavuz, D., Seymen, M., Yavuz, N., Coklar, H., & Ercan, M. (2021). Effects of water stress applied at various phenological stages on yield, quality, and water use efficiency of melon. Agricultural Water Management, 246, 106673. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2020.106673
47. Zhang, H., Xiong, Y., Huang, G., Xu, X., & Huang, Q. (2017). Effects of water stress on processing tomatoes yield, quality and water use efficiency with plastic mulched drip irrigation in sandy soil of the Hetao Irrigation District. Agricultural Water Management, 179, 205-214. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2016.07.022