Kaman et al. (2025) Prospects of training system and deficit irrigation for increasing yield and water use efficiency of pitaya (Hylocereus spp.) in the Mediterranean region

Identification

• Journal: BMC Plant Biology
• Year: 2025
• Date: 2025-10-22
• Authors: Harun Kaman, Hamide Gübbük, Lokman Altınkaya, Recep Balkıç, Mustafa Ünlü
• DOI: 10.1186/s12870-025-07442-5

Research Groups

• Department of Agricultural Structures and Irrigation, Faculty of Agriculture, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey
• Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey
• Department of Crop and Animal Production, Horticulture Program, Kumluca Vocational School, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey
• Department of Crop and Animal Production, Elmalı Vocational School, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey
• Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Alata Horticultural Research Institute, Erdemli-Mersin, Turkey

Short Summary

This study investigated the combined effects of three training systems and four deficit irrigation levels on pitaya yield, water use efficiency, and fruit quality under greenhouse conditions. It found that the DI75 irrigation treatment (75% of full irrigation) combined with Pole or Inverted U training systems optimized yield and water use efficiency.

Objective

• To determine the optimal combination of training systems (Pole, T, Inverted U) and deficit irrigation levels (100%, 75%, 50%, 25% of full irrigation) for pitaya (Hylocereus spp.) cultivation in greenhouses, focusing on fruit yield, water consumption, water use efficiency, irrigation water use efficiency, yield response factor, and fruit quality parameters.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Plastic-covered greenhouse at Akdeniz University Faculty of Agriculture, Antalya province, Turkey (54 m above sea level). Plants were grown in 20-litre pots.
• Temporal Scale: 2018 to 2021 (4 years).

Methodology and Data

• Models used:
  • Irrigation water (I) calculation: I = kp × kc × Ep × A
  • Plant evapotranspiration (ET) calculation: ET = P + I − D ± ΔS
  • Water Use Efficiency (WUE) calculation: WUE = Y / ET
  • Irrigation Water Use Efficiency (IWUE) calculation: IWUE = Y / I
  • Yield response factor (ky) calculation: [1 − Ya/Ym] = ky × [1 − ETa/ETm]
  • Statistical analysis: Two-way ANOVA, LSD test, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) using XLSTAT software.
• Data sources:
  • A-Class evaporation pan (for calculating irrigation water amounts)
  • Drip irrigation system (for water application)
  • PR2 Profile Probe (for soil water content distribution profiles)
  • Precision scale (for fruit weight and yield)
  • Digital caliper (for fruit length and width)
  • Brookfield texture device (for fruit flesh hardness)
  • Refractometer (for water-soluble dry matter/SSC)

Main Results

• Total irrigation water applied ranged from 27.63 mm (DI25) to 83.80 mm (FULL).
• The DI75 irrigation treatment (75% of full irrigation) generally resulted in the highest average yield (0.717 kg m⁻²), outperforming FULL irrigation (0.578 kg m⁻²), DI50 (0.474 kg m⁻²), and DI25 (0.438 kg m⁻²).
• Among training systems, the Pole System (0.563 kg m⁻²) and Inverted U System (0.559 kg m⁻²) showed higher yields compared to the T System (0.533 kg m⁻²).
• Water Use Efficiency (WUE) was highest for DI75 (6.94 kg m⁻³).
• Irrigation Water Use Efficiency (IWUE) was highest for DI25 (15.84 kg m⁻³), followed by DI75 (11.02 kg m⁻³).
• Fruit flesh hardness ranged from 164.75 kPa (FULL irrigation) to 212.89 kPa (DI25 treatment).
• Highest average fruit weight was 0.260 kg (DI50), followed by 0.250 kg (DI75).
• Highest average fruit length was 0.117 m (Inverted U System) and 0.115 m (DI75 treatment).
• Soluble solid content (SSC) was highest in the DI25 treatment (8.89%).
• Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed a strong positive correlation between yield and water use efficiency, and a negative correlation between yield/WUE and fruit flesh hardness/irrigation water use efficiency.

Contributions

• This study is the first to comprehensively investigate the combined effects of different training systems and deficit irrigation treatments on pitaya cultivation in greenhouse conditions.
• It provides practical recommendations for optimizing pitaya production in water-scarce Mediterranean regions by identifying the DI75 irrigation treatment (25% water saving) and Pole or Inverted U training systems as superior for maintaining high yield and quality.
• The research contributes to sustainable agricultural practices by demonstrating that full irrigation can be reduced by 25% without compromising pitaya yield, offering significant water and cost savings.

Funding

• Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (Project No. TUBITAK-118O672)

Citation

@article{Kaman2025Prospects,
  author = {Kaman, Harun and Gübbük, Hamide and Altınkaya, Lokman and Balkıç, Recep and Ünlü, Mustafa},
  title = {Prospects of training system and deficit irrigation for increasing yield and water use efficiency of pitaya (Hylocereus spp.) in the Mediterranean region},
  journal = {BMC Plant Biology},
  year = {2025},
  doi = {10.1186/s12870-025-07442-5},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-07442-5}
}