Abstract

This work aims at improving the estimation of artichoke evapotranspiration inMediterranean climates through the modelling of crop coefficients (Kc) and duration ofphenological phases of a seed propagated artichoke. A two years trial was carried outat the experimental station "E. Pantanelli" of University Aldo Moro (Bari), located in thecountryside of Policoro (MT), southern Italy.The seed propagated artichoke cv. 044 was grown in two weighing lysimeters placed ina large field and watered regularly. The irrigation was applied when 40% of totalavailable water in the soil layer occupied by roots was consumed which correspondedto the crop evapotranspiration (ETc) between 25 and 40 mm. Irrigation was applied insuch a way to replenished completely the depletion of water in the root zone. Thereference evapotranspiration (ETo) was computed daily, by using Penman-Monteithequation from the weather data collected at the agro-meteorological station near theexperimental field. The growing season started in mid of July and ended in the secondpart of May.The artichoke crop cycle was 310 and 313 days in the 1st and 2nd year, respectively.Average seasonal ETc measured at two lysimeters was slightly higher in the 1st year(967 mm) than in the 2nd one (911 mm). Water use obtained in this trial was 85%higher than usually reported in the literature for vegetatively propagated crops in thesame area and with similar crop length. Most likely this was due to taller crops (1.7 inrespect to 0.8 m) and higher biomass production in seed propagated crop.Crop coefficients (Kc), calculated daily as the ratio between ETc and ETo, revealed thatfive phenological stages could be considered in ETc estimate: i) the seedlingestablishment of about 30 days; ii) the initial development phase of approximately 60days; iii) winter vegetative stagnation of approximately 90 days; iv) spring recovery ofabout 90 days, and v) full development stage of about 45 days. The Kc values duringthe seedling establishment were between 0.3 and 0.4 and increased up to 0.8-0.9 atthe end of initial development period. The Kc values were reduced gradually to 0.4 atthe end of winter vegetative stagnation and then increased up to 1.1 during the fulldevelopment period.The presented results differ from those available in the literature since they refer to aseed propagated artichoke which is taller and more vigorous than vegetativelypropagated crop. In the last years, the former crop tends to substitute the later one inmany Mediterranean areas and a proper crop evapotranspiration estimate and irrigationmanagement are of crucial importance for a more efficient water use in the region.Further efforts could focus on the introduction of the growing degree days concept andsubstitution of sum of days with thermal sums as well as on the link between Kc andleaf area index (LAI).

Autore Pugliese

• Boari Francesca , Cantore Vito

Tutti gli autori

• Cantore V.; Todorovic M.; Schiattone M.I.; Boari F.

Titolo volume/Rivista

Non Disponibile

Anno di pubblicazione

2014

ISSN

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ISBN

2-85352-536-8

Numero di citazioni Wos

Nessuna citazione

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Numero di citazioni Scopus

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Settori ERC

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Codici ASJC

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