Effects of altering furrow to drip irrigation systems on physiological traits and yield of Sultana grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.)

In order to evaluate the effect of changing from furrow to drip irrigation methods on physiological traits and yield of Sultana grapevine, the experiment was set based on randomized complete block design with four replications during two years including 2015 and 2016 on 14-year-old vines irrigated by furrow method. Treatments of experiment consist of: furrow1 (I1), combined drip and furrow irrigation (I2), Bubbler irrigation (I3), drip1 (I4), combined surface and sub-surface drip irrigation (I5), drip 2 (I6), drip 3 (I7) and furrow 2 (I8). Results showed that total chlorophyll decreased in pressurized irrigation treatments while proline and GB was increased. The treatment of I4 had the highest concentration of soluble carbohydrates and least cell membrane stability. The yield of I8,I6 and I7 were 43, 31 and 28 ton/ha, respectively that were more than other treatments. The I7 treatment, had the most berry weight (1.2 gram). In terms of WUE, the I6 (10.3) was more than other treatments especially I1 and I8 in this study. This research showed that changing furrow irrigation (I1) to drip method, caused drought stress in old vineyards, but the yield was not reduced.