Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 118:237-241. 2005.

EFFECT OF SOIL WATER DEPLETION ON GROWTH, YIELD, AND FRUIT QUALITY OF CARAMBOLA IN GRAVELLY LOAM SOIL
RASHID AL-YAHYAI,1 FREDERICK S. DAVIES,2* BRUCE SCHAFFER1 AND JONATHAN CRANE1 1University of Florida Tropical Research and Education Center 18905 S.W. 280 Street Homestead, FL 33031 University of Florida Department of Horticultural Sciences P.O. Box 110690 Gainesville, FL 32611 Additional index words. Averrhoa carambola, fruit yield, irrigation Abstract. Irrigation scheduling of carambola (Averrhoa carambola L.) trees in South Florida is typically based on the calendar or soil appearance. The EnviroSCAN system continuously monitors soil water content with multi-sensor capacitance probes and is used to schedule irrigation based on the onset of stress principle. Our objective was to compare growth, yields, and fruit quality of 8-year-old Arkin carambola trees on Golden Star rootstock at four soil water depletion (SWD) levels in Krome very gravelly loam soil. Soil water content rarely fell below the onset of stress level for irrigation and there were no differences in tree growth, yields, or total soluble solids, at SWDs ranging from 0% (field capacity) to 17%. We hypothesize that soil water remained at non-stress levels via capillary rise from the water table and adequate rainfall. Mature carambola trees growing in this soil type required considerably less irrigation than is typical (2-3 times/week) without adverse effects on crop growth, yield or fruit quality.
2

Carambola (Averrhoa carambola L.) is an evergreen, tropical fruit tree native to S.E. Asia where it is primarily cultivated. The tree is also cultivated in regions of Australia, India, Israel, the Caribbean Islands, and the United States (mainly Hawaii and Florida) (Crane, 1994; Mauro Pace, 2004, pers. comm.). A sweet type, Arkin, is the leading commercial carambola cultivar in Florida (Knight and Crane, 2002). In southern Florida, carambola is grown in Krome very gravelly loam soil that has a high pH (7.4-8.4), low fertility, and low soil water holding capacity (Noble et al., 1996). Due to the hardness of the soil and to facilitate root growth, carambola trees are planted at perpendicular intersections of trenches that are approximately 50 to 75 cm wide and 50 cm deep (Colburn and Goldweber, 1961). Fulfilling carambola tree water requirements is important for economically profitable fruit production. Insufficient (Ismail and Noor, 1996b; Salakpetch et al., 1990) or excessive (Ismail and Noor, 1996a; Joyner and Schaffer, 1989) soil moisture can decrease tree growth and production. For example, increased water stress decreased vegetative growth (Ismail et al., 1994, 1996) and flowering (Salakpetch et al., 1990) of carambola in Australia. Even when tree growth was not affected by drought, yield was significantly reduced in rainfed trees

compared to irrigated trees in Malaysia, mainly due to a decrease in fruit size of non-irrigated trees (Bookeri, 1996). Little is known about water requirements and irrigation scheduling practices for carambola trees. In Australia, 30-75 mm of water per week was recommended for mature carambola trees grown in the Northern Territory (Lim, 1996) and northern Queensland (Galn Saco et al., 1993). In southern Florida, Crane (1994) recommended 33 mm per ha twice a week during dry periods throughout the year. However, water application rates and frequencies that meet tree water requirements for optimum growth and yield have not been established. Understanding tree water requirements is important for proper irrigation management of carambola trees in subtropical climates such as that of South Florida. The EnviroScan system (Sentek Sensor Technologies, Stepney, Australia) has been developed for irrigation scheduling based on continuously monitoring soil water content with multisensor capacitance probes. The system comes with proprietary software (EnviroSCAN 4.0, Sentek PTY Ltd., Kent Town, Australia) for plotting soil water depletion (SWD) over time and determining the full point (field capacity), the refill point (time to irrigate), and the theoretical onset of water stress, based on the rate of soil water depletion (SWD) (Paltineanu and Star, 1997). Irrigation decisions using SWD measurements are based on maintaining soil water content between the full point and the refill point and irrigating before the occurrence of the onset of water stress. However, this approach to irrigation may be more applicable to annual, herbaceous crops than to fruit trees. Trees can tolerate longer periods of low soil water content than herbaceous plants through specialized long- and short-term physiological, phenological, anatomical, and morphological adaptations (Ludlow, 1989), such as growth reduction, stomatal closure, and osmotic adjustment (Hsiao and Acevedo, 1974). Also, in carambola orchards in Krome very gravelly loam soil, it may be difficult for soil water content to fall below the refill point due to capillary water movement from the shallow water table to the root zone (Al-Yahyai et al., 2005). The objective of this study was to determine the effects of four levels of SWD on growth, yield and total soluble solid content in fruit of mature orchard-grown carambola trees in Krome very gravelly loam soil.
Materials and Methods

*Corresponding author; e-mail: fsd@mail.ifas.ufl.edu

Plant Material and Soil Properties. The study was conducted in an orchard of 8-year-old Arkin carambola trees grafted on open-pollinated Golden Star rootstocks in Krome very gravelly loam soil, classified as a loamy-skeletal, carbonatic, hyperthermic, Lithic Udorthents (Nobel et al., 1996) in Homestead, Fla. (25.5N Lat. and 80.5W Long). The trees were spaced at 4.5 m within and 6 m between rows and surrounded by an artificial (polypropylene ribbon shade cloth) windbreak on the northern, eastern, and western perimeters and sapodilla [Manilkara zapota (L.) von Royen] trees as windbreaks on the southern perimeter. Trees were planted at the intersection of two long trenches as is common practice in 237

Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 118: 2005.

this growing region (Colburn and Goldweber, 1961). Cultural practices were based on recommendations for commercial carambola production in southern Florida (Crane, 1994). Soil Water Depletion Treatments. Soil water depletion was determined by monitoring soil water content with multisensor capacitance probes (EnviroSCAN, Sentek PTY Ltd., Kent Town, Australia). Capacitance probes were installed 60 cm north of the trunk of three trees per treatment. Each probe consisted of four capacitance sensors located at soil depths of 10, 20, 30, and 50 cm. The sensors recorded soil water content every 30 min and the data were stored in a datalogger and later downloaded to a portable computer for analysis. Description of the installation of the capacitance probe system in Krome soils was previously described by Al-Yahyai et al. (2003) and Nez-Elisea et al. (2001), and technical specifications of the multisensor capacitance sensors were described by Paltineanu and Starr (1997). Data from the 10-, 20- and 30-cm depths sensors were summed and plotted using EnviroSCAN software (EnviroSCAN 4.0, Sentek PTY Ltd., Kent Town, Australia) because active roots were located at these depths as determined by looking at the rate of soil water depletion at different soil depths measured with the EnviroScan system. Continuous measurements of soil water content using capacitance probes allowed for the determination of field capacity (FC) (Fares and Alva, 2000; Hillel, 1998; Zekri and Parsons, 1999). Field capacity values were selected based on Veihmeyer and Hendricksons concept that define FC as the amount of water in the soil after excess water had drained and the rate of downward movement had decreased (Hillel, 1998). After the SWD levels were reached, irrigation was applied for each treatment to restore soil water levels to FC using microsprinklers with a 360 wetting pattern (Maxijet, Dundee, Fla., USA) at 89 Lh-1. Soil water depletion levels were predetermined based on a preliminary study (Al-Yahyai, unpublished data) whereby irrigation water was withheld and soil water content was monitored via capacitance probes until leaf yellowing and abscission appeared on the trees, which were assumed to be visual indications of water stress. Irrigation was initiated when SWD

Table 1. Total irrigation time and amount of water applied to 8-year-old Arkin carambola trees irrigated at four different levels of soil water depletion (SWD) in an orchard on Krome very gravelly loam soil during 2002 and 2003. 2002 Total irrigation time (h) 21 16 12 10 1,355 Total amount of water applied (Lyr-1)z 1869 1424 1068 890 Total irrigation time (h) 22 15 11 7 1,606 2003 Total amount of water applied (Lyr-1)z 1958 1335 979 623

SWD (%) 0-8 9-11 12-14 15-16

Total rainfall (mm)

z

Based on an application rate of 89 Lh.

reached one of the following four levels (where 0% SWD = FC): 0-8% SWD, 9-11% SWD, 12-14% SWD, or 15-17% SWD. Growth, Yield and Fruit Quality Measurements. Shoot growth was measured on four randomly selected, actively growing branches per tree. The shoots were tagged at 10 cm below the shoot apex and measured using a ruler. Fruit from six trees per treatment were harvested during August (summer harvest) and December (winter harvest) of

Fig. 1. Soil water depletion (SWD) levels from above field capacity to visible symptoms of stress in an 8-year-old Arkin carambola orchard in Krome very gravelly loam soil. The range of percentage SWD for each of four treatments between field capacity and visible symptoms of water stress are indicated by horizontal lines.

Fig. 2. Effect of soil water depletion (SWD) on shoot length of 8-year-old Arkin carambola trees during 2002 and 2003. Symbols with vertical bars represent means SE of 4 shoots per tree on 6 trees.

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Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 118: 2005.

Fig. 3. Total number of mature (108 hue according to colorimeter readings) and tree-ripened (87 hue) Arkin carambola fruit in an 8-year-old orchard irrigated at four different soil water depletion (SWD) levels during 2002 and 2003.

Fig. 4. Total fresh weight of Arkin carambola fruit irrigated at four different soil water depletion (SWD) levels during 2002 and 2003.

2002 and 2003. The harvest dates coincided with commercial peak harvesting months for carambola trees in southern Florida. Fruit from six trees per treatment were harvested on Dec. 2002 and Dec. 2003. Fruit were sorted based on the stage of maturity and color: immature (115 hue), mature (108 hue), and ripe (tree-ripened; 87 hue) as determined with a colorimeter (Minolta Chroma Meter, Minolta, Inc., Ramsey, N.J.). Fruit were then counted and weighed to determine the total yield. Total soluble solids (TSS) of 20 randomly selected mature and 20 ripe fruit per tree were determined for six trees per treatment using a refractometer. Experimental Design and Statistical Analyses. Treatments were arranged in a completely randomized design. Each treatment consisted of three rows with five trees per row. Two trees were randomly selected from each row for growth and yield measurements. Data were analyzed by repeated measures, analysis of variance using SAS Version 8.2 software (SAS Institute, Cary, N.C.) and linear regression using Sigmaplot 2002 (SPSS, Inc., Redland, Calif.). For regression analysis, the mean SWD level of each SWD treatment was used as the independent variables.
Results and Discussion

Irrigation Measurements. Soil water content declined in a typical stepwise pattern over the course of the experiment (Fig. 1) and never reached the onset of stress levels in the Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 118: 2005.

field. The length of time between irrigations required to reach each SWD treatment level in May 2002 is shown if Fig. 1. At that time, it took 14 to 15 d (from 5 May to 18-19 May) for the soil water content to go from field capacity to 15-16% SWD. This is a much longer duration between irrigations than is typical in most growers orchards in South Florida where trees are generally irrigated 3-6 times per week (J. H. Crane, personal correspondence with carambola growers). The total yearly duration of irrigation applied in our study ranged from 10 h for the wettest (0-8% SWD) to 22 h for the driest (15-16% SWD) treatments (Table 1). This is a fraction of the 548 to 2190 h of irrigation yearly that is often applied by carambola growers (J. H. Crane, personal communication with four commercial carambola growers). Thus, commercial carambola growers surveyed apply as much as 21,700 to 115,739 L per tree per year. In contrast, we applied as little as 890 and 623 L per tree per year to the wettest treatment in 2002 and 2003, respectively which is considerably less than 0.1% of the amount of water applied by the carambola growers surveyed (Table 1). Shoot Length. Shoot elongation from March to September in 2002 and from April to December in 2003 (Fig. 2) did not significantly differ among SWD treatments and followed a typical shoot growth pattern for carambola trees. The lack of shoot elongation differences in response to treatments could be attributed to having sufficient soil water content throughout the experiment. Frequent precipitation (1,355 mm in 2002 and 1,606 mm in 2003, Table 1) and capillary rise from 239

Fig. 5. Total soluble solids content of tree-ripened (87 hue based on colorimeter readings) Arkin carambola fruit irrigated at four different soil water depletion (SWD) levels during 2002 and 2003.

Fig. 6. Total soluble solids content of mature (108 hue based on colorimeter readings) Arkin carambola fruit irrigated at four different soil water depletion (SWD) levels during 2002 and 2003.

the water table located 1-2 m below soil surface may have provided an adequate water supply to the trees. In Malaysia, sufficient rainfall also resulted in no significant difference in shoot growth rate between irrigated and rain-fed, field-grown carambola trees (Bookeri, 1996). Moreover, carambola trees can tolerate periods of low soil water content once they are established (Galn Saco et al., 1993). Fruit Number and Weight. There was more variability in fruit number and weight among treatments in 2002 than in 2003 (Figs. 3 and 4). The number and weight of mature (108 hue) and ripe (tree-ripened; 87 hue) fruit in 2002 and 2003 were not significantly different among SWD treatments (Fig. 3). Similarly, in a study of carambola trees in Malaysia, Bookeri (1996) found that irrigation treatments did not affect fruit number, but irrigated trees had fruit that were 17% larger than those of non-irrigated trees. In this study, soil water content did not reach sufficiently low levels to cause water stress and resulted in no significant differences in fruit length, number or weight among treatments. This lack of differences in fruit number or weight related to treatment further support our contention that SWD never reached critical levels. Total Soluble Solids (TSS) Content. Total soluble solids contents of ripe and mature fruit harvested in 2003 were higher than those harvested in 2002 (Figs. 5 and 6). Total soluble solids content was higher than that reported previously (6.87.2%) for carambola in southern Florida (Campbell and 240

Koch, 1989; Crane et al., 1998). There was no significant effect of SWD treatments on TSS of ripe or mature fruit. In carambola fruit, TSS content often varies from harvest to harvest (J. C. Crane, unpublished data), but the reasons for this have not yet been elucidated. However, due to variability of TSS within harvest dates, no conclusion can be made on the effect of SWD treatments on ripe fruit TSS for carambola trees in this study.
Conclusions

Shoot growth and yields of carambola trees were not affected by SWD within the range tested (0-17%). Sufficient soil water content from precipitation and capillary water movement from the shallow water table possibly resulted in sufficient soil water content to obtain adequate vegetative growth and yields. Fruit length, number and weight did not differ significantly among SWD treatments. Similarly, TSS content did not follow a specific trend in response to irrigation at various levels of SWD. Differences among SWD treatments in mature and ripe fruit fresh and dry fruit weight were highly variable. Thus, it appears that irrigation of carambola trees in Krome very gravelly loam soil in an orchard can be applied at or above 17% SWD without a significant effect on fruit yield or quality. This further suggests that carambola growers in southern Florida could reduce irrigation levels without having adverse effects on tree growth, yield or fruit quality. Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 118: 2005.

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