Changes in Drip Irrigation Water Distribution Patterns Improve Fruit Quality and Economic Water Productivity in Early-Season Lemon Trees

The physiological and agronomic responses of two irrigation systems were compared in ‘Fino 49′ lemon trees (Citrus limon [L.] Burm. fil.). consisted different designs the installation (same amount water frequency): a conventional design (2L, drip lines with six drippers per tree), larger wetted surface (3L, implementing third line nine tree). Results indicated that 3L promoted better distribution fertilisers soil profile, improving some gas-exchange parameters periods low evaporative demand or after rain. response showed main effects on fruit quality: (1) total numer fruits affected by endoxerosis was reduced, (2) first harvest (the earliest harvested) moved forward time. From an economic point view, productivity increased, mainly due to increment proportion first-harvested lemon, but also decrease produced for industry (affected endoxerosis). system could be interesting alternative favour precocity, use available resources early tree growers.