Use of brackish irrigation water for sub-tropical farming production.
Martínez-Raya A., Durán V. H., Aguilar J., Martínez-Vilela A.
Author Affiliation: Cent. Investigación y Formación Agraria de Granada, Apdo 2027, 18080 Granada, Spain.
Irrigation under conditions of water scarcity. Vol 1G. 17th ICID International Congress on Irrigation and Drainage, Granada, Spain, 13-17 September 1999. : 61-71
Abstract : Brackish water is used to irrigate fruit trees in the coastal region of S Spain over an 800 ha area. The fruit tree species used, avocado (Persea americana) and cherimoyas (Annona cherimolia) are sensitive to soluble salts, particularly chlorides. Farmers have beeb obliged to seek alternative, more tolerant crops such as mango (Mangifera indica). Studies were conducted in field conditions to test the effect of brackish water used to irrigate fruit-bearing mango trees grafted with the 'Osteen' and similar varieties on small, three-year old trees using different rootstocks (Gomera-1 and Gomera-3). The saline treatments used during the test were\:-1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 dS/m. Yields decreased with increasing salinity. The Gomera-1 rootstock had greater tolerance to high concentrations of chlorides, and a higher productivity than the Gomera-3 rootstock. The influence the rootstock has on the retention of toxic elements in its vegetal tissues was also investigated - Gomera-1 was found to be most effective in constricting absorption.