Interrelation Between Growing Conditions in Caucasus Subtropics and Actinidia deliciosa ‘Hayward’ Yield for the Sustainable Agriculture

• Published in: Sustainability Vol. 17; no. 14; p. 6499
• Main Authors: Tutberidze, Tsiala V., Ryndin, Alexey V., Besedina, Tina D., Kiseleva, Natalya S., Brigida, Vladimir, Boyko, Aleksandr P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.07.2025
• Subjects: Climate change; Crop yields; Drought; Environmental aspects; Fruits; Growth; Kinases; Kiwifruit; Leaves; Metabolism; Methods; Physiology; Precipitation; Signal transduction; Subtropical climates; Sustainable agriculture; Time series; Varieties; Water; Water shortages; Asia; Europe; Caucasus
• ISSN: 2071-1050; 2071-1050
• DOI: 10.3390/su17146499

Kiwifruit is a high-value subtropical crop with significant nutritional and economic importance, but its cultivation faces growing challenges due to climate change, particularly in Caucasus. This study aims to study the impact of abiotic stressors such as temperature extremes, drought, and frost on the yield of the ‘Hayward’ cultivar over a 20-year period (from 2003 to 2022). Using a combination of agroclimatic data analysis, measurements of soluble solid content, and soil moisture assessments, this research identified key factors which limit kiwifruit cultivation productivity. The results revealed a high yield variability—68%, with the mean value declining by 16.6% every five years due to increasing aridity and heat stress. Extreme temperature rises of up to 30 °C caused yield losses of 79–89%, and the presence of frost led to declines of 71–94%. In addition, it is objectively proven that the vulnerability of kiwifruit is subject to climate-driven water imbalances. This highlights the need for adaptive strategy formation in the area of optimized irrigation for the sustainable cultivation of fruit in the subtropics. One of the study’s limitations was that it was organized around a single variety of kiwifruit (‘Hayward’). In view of the fact that there are significant differences in growth characteristics among kiwifruit varieties, future research should focus on overcoming this shortcoming.