Production of pear cv. ‘Triunfo’ under irrigation systems and depths in the sub-middle São Francisco region

ABSTRACT Aiming at the search for a new alternative for the sustainability of the properties in the irrigated areas of the Brazilian Northeast, the objective of this study was to identify the ideal irrigation system and depth for a better yield and quality of pear fruits in the Sub-middle São Francisco region. The experiment was conducted in the commercial orchard of the Frutos do Sol farm, located in the municipality of Petrolina, PE, Brazil, from October 2016 to November 2017. The treatments consisted of four irrigation depths (60; 80; 100 and 120% of crop evapotranspiration - ETc), under two irrigation systems (drip and micro-sprinkler), in two crop cycles of ‘Triunfo’ pear. Yield, average fruit weight, water productivity, pulp firmness and titratable acidity, total soluble solids and lightness of the fruits were analyzed. Irrigation depths of 96.04% and 94.84% ETc promote, respectively, the highest marketable yields for the first (43.48 t ha-1) and second (26.55 t ha-1) cycle of ‘Triunfo’ pear in the Brazilian semi-arid region. Drip irrigation system in the warmer period promotes higher yield. The cultivation of ‘Triunfo’ pear irrigated by drip and micro-sprinkler promotes fruits with good commercial quality in the Brazilian semi-arid region.