Effects of Different Irrigation Levels on Fruit Yield and Quality of Valencia Late Orange Under Northern Cyprus Conditions

Abstract

This study was carried out to define the effect of surface drip irrigation approaches on yield and quality parameters of orange ( Citrus sinensis cv. Valencia Late) trees during the growing periods between 2014-2016 years at the private farm in Guzelyurt, Northern Cyprus. The volume of drip irrigation water applied was based on total Class A pan evaporation (K cp1 :1.25, K cp2 :1.00, K cp3 :0.75 and K cp4 :0.50) and experimental plots were irrigated when the total amount of Class A pan evaporation was about 35 ± 5 mm. It was determined that irrigation treatments affect yield, fruit weight, fruit length, fruit width, juice, total soluble sugar, total acidity, pH and vitamin C content except for peel thickness. The average evapotranspiration values were 1343.5 mm for K cp1 , 1135.0 mm for K cp2 , 956.0 mm for K cp3 , and 787.3 mm for K cp4 irrigation treatments. According to the data of 2 years, yearly yield for K cp1 , K cp2 , K cp3 , and K cp4 irrigation levels were 45.0 t ha -1 , 47.1 t ha -1 , 38.7 t ha -1 , and 19.2 t ha -1 , respectively. It is determined that Valencia late can be irrigated by means of the amount of irrigation equivalent to 75% of Class A Pan in Guzelyurt region in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.