Water use of young apple trees drip-irrigated

Crop coefficients (Kc) of apple trees 'Cripp's Pink', during the second growing season, were determined at EEA INTA Alto Valle. Individual trees were placed in each of three lysimeters; at the time of orchard establishment. The trees were watered every day by drip irrigation with emitters delivering 4 I h(-1), placed every 0.50 m. During the growing season the following determinations were performed: water volume applied and drained, soil water tension, trunk sectional area, intercepted photosynthetic radiation and percentage of shaded surface. Maximum monthly crop water evapotranspiration (ETc) was in January, reaching 2.5 mm day(-1). This was equivalent to 20 liters per tree day(-1), taking into account the planting square. The Crop coefficients increased from 0.26 at full bloom (04/10/09) to 0.47 in the final of November and from there they remained almost constant until the end of April. Annual evapotranspiracion for apple tree 'Cripps's Pink', during the second growing season, was 401 mm.