Effects of Irrigation Depth on Graft Establishment, Nursery Productivity and Water Use Efficiency in Peach Nursery Production

Efficient irrigation management is critical for increasing water production and providing high-quality planting material in fruit tree nurseries. This study looked at how four different irrigation depths (0, 10, 20, and 30 mm each irrigation event) affected graft establishment, nursery survival rate, total water consumption, and irrigation water productivity in peach (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch). Field studies were carried out in a commercial nursery in northeastern Romania over two consecutive growth seasons, with two cultivars ('Redhaven' and 'Cresthaven') and four fertilization levels in a factorial design. Irrigation considerably increased graft take and the number of marketable nursery trees compared to rainfed circumstances. Moderate irrigation (20 mm per irrigation event) resulted in the highest nursery survival rate and water efficiency. Higher irrigation inputs increased total water use, but reduced irrigation water productivity. Regression analysis revealed nonlinear connections between water consumption and nursery performance, implying that productivity advantages drop with increasing irrigation levels. The findings suggest that moderate watering can boost nursery yield while conserving water. These findings offer practical recommendations for irrigation management in commercial peach nursery production systems.