Optimizing irrigation scheduling in apple orchards: soil moisture thresholds balance yield, fruit quality, and water use efficiency.

Authors

Nowsheen Nazir, Meinaz Nissar, Krishna Nemali, Abdul Raouf Malik, Abdul Malik, Rifat Bhat, Amit Kumar, Shafat Ahmad Banday, Nikhat J Siddiqi, Charu Bisht, Showkat Rasool, Immad A Shah, Ab Waheed Wani, Tashooq Ahmad Bhat

Published in

Scientific reports. Volume 16. Issue 1. Aug 06, 2026. Epub Aug 06, 2026.

Abstract

Water scarcity necessitates efficient irrigation strategies in high-value crops like apple. While regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) is known to influence apple yield and quality, the optimal soil moisture threshold for automated systems in region-specific contexts remains poorly defined. This two-year study (2024-2025) evaluated the effects of four precise, soil moisture-based irrigation thresholds on the yield, fruit quality, and water productivity (WP) of 'Super Chief' apples in the northwestern Himalayas. An automated irrigation system using a Human-Machine Interface (HMI) and calibrated soil moisture sensors maintained Volumetric Water Content (VWC) at four thresholds: 100% (I100, 45% VWC), 80% (I80, 36% VWC), 60% (I60, 27% VWC), and 40% (I40, 18% VWC) of field capacity (θfc). Full irrigation (I100) maximized yield (70.80 t ha⁻¹) and fruit size (165.60 g). Severe deficit (I40) significantly enhanced fruit firmness (9.56 N) and soluble solids content (13.95 °Brix) but at the cost of a 20% yield reduction. Crucially, the I80 treatment achieved a near-optimal yield (66.24 t ha⁻¹) while using 20% less irrigation water than I100, resulting in a 31% higher water productivity (WP). Multi-criteria TOPSIS analysis objectively ranked I80 as the best compromise strategy. For 'Super Chief' apples in the Himalayan region, maintaining soil moisture at 80% θfc via sensor-based automation is the superior strategy, effectively balancing marketable yield, enhanced fruit quality, and water conservation.

PMID:
42728253
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 12 Sep 2026.

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