Drought and Salinity in Citriculture: Optimal Practices to Alleviate Salinity and Water Stress

• Published in: Agronomy (Basel) Vol. 11; no. 7; p. 1283
• Main Authors: Ziogas, Vasileios, Tanou, Georgia, Morianou, Giasemi, Kourgialas, Nektarios
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.07.2021
• Subjects: abiotic stresses; Agricultural commodities; Agricultural industry; Agricultural management; Agricultural production; Citrus fruits; Citrus trees; citrus water needs; Crop production; Drought; Flowers & plants; Food quality; Fruit trees; Fruits; Irrigation; Irrigation practices; Irrigation water; Physiology; Plant growth; Polyethylene glycol; Rootstocks; Salinity; Salinity effects; Salt; sustainability of citriculture; Toxicity; Tree crops; Trees; Water availability; Water demand; Water quality; Water resources; Water scarcity; Water stress
• ISSN: 2073-4395; 2073-4395
• DOI: 10.3390/agronomy11071283

Among the various abiotic stresses, drought is the major factor limiting crop productivity worldwide. Citrus has been recognized as a fruit tree crop group of great importance to the global agricultural sector since there are 140 citrus-producing countries worldwide. The majority of citrus-producing areas are subjected to dry and hot summer weather, limited availability of water resources with parallel low-quality irrigation water due to increased salinity regimes. Citrus trees are generally classified as “salt-intolerant” with high water needs, especially during summer. Water scarcity negatively affects plant growth and impairs cell metabolism, affecting the overall tree growth and the quality of produced fruit. Key factors that overall attempt to sustain and withstand the negative effect of salinity and drought stress are the extensive use of rootstocks in citriculture as well as the appropriate agronomical and irrigation practices applied. This review paper emphasizes and summarizes the crucial role of the above factors in the sustainability of citriculture.