Soil- Plant- Water Interactions under Variable Irrigation Depths in Nursery-Grown Apricot Cultivars

The effective management of soil water resources is a major challenge in nursery cultivation, especially for drought-sensitive species like apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.). This research examined how varying irrigation depths (0, 10, 20, and 30 mm per cycle) affect soil water consumption and plant growth in two apricot cultivars, ‘Excelsior’ and ‘Favorit’, which were grafted onto Prunus cerasifera rootstock. The study was carried out in a field nursery during the 2024 growing season. At the end of the season, total branch length was recorded, and the overall vegetative performance was assessed using the Lp-norm index. Increasing the irrigation depth consistently improved shoot development; however, the responses varied by cultivar. ‘Excelsior’ achieved its best performance at 20 mm per cycle, while ‘Favorit’ showed continued benefits from irrigation up to 30 mm, indicating its higher tolerance to limited soil moisture. Moderate levels of irrigation facilitated balanced shoot growth without leading to excessive vigor, highlighting the importance of controlled water application for enhancing water-use efficiency in nursery operations. These results offer a practical, genotype-specific approach for optimizing soil water usage and creating precise irrigation plans for apricot liner production.