Weed management in the dry season: Interferences in physiology and quality of Persian lime fruits

Weed interference in young citrus orchards causes significant damages, especially when competition occurs during the dry season, when environmental resources are even more scarce. This study aimed to test the effects of interference periods and weed management on the physiology, yield and quality of Persian lime fruits, during the dry season. The experimental design was randomized blocks, with five treatments [hoeing; glyphosate application; decrease of stored water (March to May); critical water deficit (June to August); and water deficit throughout the dry season (March to August)] and four replications. Weed interference during the decrease of stored water and critical water deficit periods affected significantly the physiological variables, yield and total solids contents of the fruits, but to a lesser extent than for the water deficit throughout the dry season. Weed control with glyphosate resulted in 1.56 and 2.53 times more fruits per tree than hoeing and water deficit throughout the dry season, respectively. The chemical management provided better physiological and productive responses than hoeing, due to the effect of weed mulch in the water deficit season.