Influencia del riego y la fertilización en el rendimiento y calidad de lima ácida tahití (Citrus latifoliaTanaka)

Abstract

Los cítricos son capaces de crecer y fructificar en condiciones ambientales muy diversas, desde climas subtropicales relativamente fríos hasta zonas tropicales cálidas. Se han encontrado relaciones estrechas con factores ambientales, entre los que se encuentran un régimen de temperaturas moderadamente bajas, en condiciones subtropicales, y el estrés hídrico en el trópico para activar la floración, lo cual hace que el suministro de agua sea muy importante en la producción. Se evaluó el efecto del sistema de riego localizado de alta frecuencia y la fertilización sobre el rendimiento y calidad del cultivo de lima acida Tahití, en tres localidades de Colombia; Espinal (Tolima) a 335 msnm, Lebrija (Santander) a 1033 msnm y Santo Tomas (Atlántico) a 19 msnm. Las láminas de riego evaluadas se basaron en porcentajes de la evapotranspiración de referencia (ETo) así: L1= 50%ETo, L2= 70%ETo y L3= 100%ETo. Los tres niveles de fertilización fueron: N1= según el análisis químico del suelo/requerimientos de la planta, N2= doble de la fertilización recomendada en N1 y N3 = fertilización utilizada por el productor. La frecuencia de fertilización fue quincenal. Las variables de respuesta fueron: rendimiento, peso del fruto, diámetro ecuatorial y polar del fruto, grosor de la cáscara, peso y porcentaje de jugo, acidez, sólidos solubles y contenido de vitamina C.

//Abstract: Citrus is able to grow and flourish in a variety of environmental conditions from relatively cold climates to subtropical warm tropical areas. It has been found a close relationship between environmental factors, such as moderately low temperatures in subtropical conditions, and water stress in the tropics that trigger flowering, which makes water supply a very important factor associated with yield. The effect of drip irrigation system and high frequency fertilization on crop yield and quality of Tahiti lime was evaluated at three locations in Colombia, i.e., Espinal (Tolima) at 335 a.m.s.l., Lebrija (Santander) at 1033 a.m.s.l., and Santo Tomas (Atlántico) at 19 a.m.s.l. Slidesevaluatedirrigationrateswere based onreference evapotranspiration(ETo) as follows: L1= 50% ETo, L2= 70% ETo y L3= 100% ETo.The three levels of fertilization were: N1 = according to the chemical analysis soil / plant requirements, N2 = twice the recommended N1 and N3 fertilization = fertilizer used by the grower. The frequency of fertilization was fortnightly. The response variables were: yield, fruit weight, equatorial and polar diameter fruit, shell thickness, weight and juice percentage, acidity, soluble solids and vitamin C content. In Espinal, where there were sandy loams with a very low nutrition state and a negative water balance throughout the year, an optimal response was observed in the irrigation sheet with the greatest water applied (L3), represented mainly in the yield (number and weight of fruits (average 80 g)) and quality production that place it in category C (technical standard Colombian acidfor Tahiti lime under NTC 4087), which is acceptable for export. In Lebrija, the optimal water availability of 10 months per year, makes the production of Tahiti lime an energetically economic activity, even in soils with characteristics suitable for cultivation, such as sandy soils with high chemical weathering, where the presence of acid pH is not a limiting factor for cultivation. The highest values for size and fruit weight (average 109 g) were achieved with the interaction of treatments L3 x N1, placing this production in category B (according to NTC 4087). In Santo Tomás, the production was limited and a productive state was not observed before the fourth year, an age at which the yield had stabilized for other localities, starting on the second year. The low production resulting by the soil conditions (poor soils) and a water deficit during most of the year makes the productive activity of Tahiti lime unprofitable for the region, given the need for high technology investment in irrigation and nutrition.