Abstract

ARENAS B., MARÍA CRISTINA; VELEZ S., JAVIER E.  and  CAMACHO-TAMAYO, JESÚS H.. Pear fruit growth in drip irrigation systems with one or two lines. rev.colomb.cienc.hortic. [online]. 2012, vol.6, n.2, pp.141-150. ISSN 2011-2173.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the growth of pear fruit by analyzing the dynamics of dry matter accumulation rates as correlated with the culture, under the climatic conditions of Sesquile (Cundinamarca, Colombia). The study was based on the application of two processes: the first one consisted of one drip line per row of plants with six emitters of 8 L h^-1, and the second with two drip lines per row of plants with three emitters of 8 L h^-1 per line. The main changes in the physicochemical characteristics were evaluated starting with the fourth week of flowering and based on rates of weight gain; and the relative growth rate was determined by the stages of development. The fruit reached the final size at 15 weeks after flowering, ripening occurred between weeks 16 and 20, with a yellowish-brown color for the epicarp. The fruit growth followed a double sigmoid curve fitted with a logistic equation of four parameters. The results of the soil water variables allowed for irrigation scheduling and ensured adequate water supply in the period of water deficit with a minimal difference that was not significant for fruit growth, indicating that the use of one irrigation line provides for similar yields but with a lower equipment cost.

Keywords : quality; maturity index; dry matter; drip irrigation; Pyrus communis L..

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )