Bayar et al. (2026) Global meta-analysis of irrigation scheduling effects on water use efficiency, fruit quality, and yield in blueberry and strawberry

Identification

• Journal: Agricultural Water Management
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-07-27
• Authors: Jalal Bayar, Nawab Ali, Joshua VanderWeide, Younsuk Dong
• DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2026.110667

Research Groups

• Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, Michigan State University
• Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University

Short Summary

This study conducted a global meta-analysis to evaluate the impact of irrigation scheduling on water use efficiency (WUE), fruit quality, and yield in blueberry and strawberry under different irrigation regimes. The results showed that moderate deficit irrigation (MDI) can optimize blueberry and strawberry yield while improving WUE under semi-humid climate and loamy soil conditions.

Objective

• Investigate the effects of irrigation scheduling on water use efficiency, fruit quality, and yield in blueberry and strawberry.
• Identify key moderating factors affecting crop responses to irrigation scheduling.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Global scale, with data collected from various locations worldwide.
• Temporal Scale: Data was collected over a period of several years, with the exact time frame not specified.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Meta-analysis models were used to synthesize data from multiple studies.
• Data sources: Peer-reviewed studies published in relevant literature databases, including Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar.

Main Results

• Irrigation scheduling significantly influenced yield, fruit quality attributes, leaf gas exchange parameters, and WUE in both blueberry and strawberry.
• Moderate deficit irrigation (MDI) improved WUE and reduced yield losses in both crops under semi-humid climate conditions.
• Soil type was a critical moderator of crop responses to irrigation scheduling, with loam and silt soils providing optimal conditions for improving yield and WUE.

Contributions

• This study provides a comprehensive synthesis of the effects of irrigation scheduling on blueberry and strawberry production systems.
• The findings highlight the importance of considering climate and soil-specific factors when developing irrigation management strategies.

Funding

• Not specified in the provided text.

Citation

@article{Bayar2026Global,
  author = {Bayar, Jalal and Ali, Nawab and VanderWeide, Joshua and Dong, Younsuk},
  title = {Global meta-analysis of irrigation scheduling effects on water use efficiency, fruit quality, and yield in blueberry and strawberry},
  journal = {Agricultural Water Management},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1016/j.agwat.2026.110667},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2026.110667}
}