Agronomic and physiological basis for automating regulated deficit irrigation in sweet cherry trees

Abstract

[SPA] Esta tesis doctoral se presenta bajo la modalidad de compendio de publicaciones. La tesis estudia el funcionamiento hídrico del cerezo a partir del empleo de diferentes estrategias de riego y técnicas de cultivo. Para ello, se evaluaron las respuestas agronómica y fisiológica del cultivo y se estudiaron y compararon diferentes indicadores del estado hídrico del continuo suelo, planta, atmósfera con el fin último de aumentar la productividad del uso de agua.

[ENG] This doctoral dissertation has been presented in the form of thesis by publication. The global sweet cherry production has sharply increased in the last decades. As consumer interest in this seasonal fruit keeps growing, growers from areas where cherries have not been traditionally cultivated exhibit interest and consider its cultivation due to a demand exceeding the offer. These new areas are interested in extending sweet cherry season and providing high quality fruit when there is a low supply on the market. To achieve these goals, it has been necessary to adopt new orchard systems, new cultivar/rootstock combinations adapted to different edaphoclimatic conditions, and drip irrigation systems.