Effect of different drip irrigation methods and fertilization on growth, physiology and water use of young apple tree

A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of three drip irrigation methods (i.e. conventional drip irrigation (CDI), both sides of the root-zone irrigated with full watering, alternate drip irrigation (ADI), both sides of the root-zone irrigated alternatively with half of the full watering, and fixed drip irrigation (FDI), only one side of the root-zone irrigated with half of the full watering) on growth, physiology, root hydraulic conductance and water use of young apple tree under different nitrogen (N) or phosphorus (P) fertilization (i.e. CK (no fertilization), N1 (0.2 g N/kg), N2 (0.4 g N/kg), P1 (0.2 g P2O5/kg) and P2 (0.4 g P2O5/kg)). Results show that compared to CDI, ADI and FDI reduced mean root dry mass, daily transpiration, root hydraulic conductance (Kr), leaf photosynthesis rate, transpiration rate and stomatal conductance of young apple tree by 6.9 and 27.7, 29.3 and 45.0, 6.8 and 37.9, 2.5 and 4.8, 32.6 and 33.0, 22.1 and 22.3%, but increased leaf water use efficiency (WUE) by 31.3 and 29.8%, respectively when they saved irrigation water by 50%. Compared to the CK, N or P fertilization significantly increased Kr, and Kr was increased with the increased N or P fertilization level. There were parabolic correlations between Kr and root dry mass, daily transpiration and stomatal conductance. Our results indicate that ADI reduced transpiration rate significantly, but it did not reduce photosynthesis rate and Kr significantly, thus alternate drip irrigation improved WUE and the regulation ability of water balance in plants.

► Alternate drip irrigation reduced root dry mass and root hydraulic conductance (Kr) of apple seedling, but increased water use efficiency (WUE).
► Compared to no fertilization, N or P fertilization increased Kr.
► Parabolic correlations between Kr and root dry mass and stomatal conductance were found.
► Alternate drip irrigation improved WUE and the regulation ability of water balance in plants.