Optimizing Hass Avocado Production through Sustainable Irrigation Practices in the Arid Zone of Tacna, Peru

DOI

10.2991/978-94-6239-666-1_19How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Hass Avocado; Irrigation Efficiency; Irrigation Uniformity; Soil Moisture; Soil Salinity; Fruit Yield; Cation Exchange Capacity; Water Management; Arid Agriculture; Sustainable Cultivation

Abstract

In the arid Tacna region of Peru, Hass avocado cultivation is constrained by limited water resources and the need for efficient irrigation practices. This study investigates the combined effects of soil characteristics and irrigation efficiency on Hass avocado yield and growth across diverse production zones in Tacna, Peru, to inform strategies for sustainable cultivation in arid environments. Field measurements were conducted in avocado orchards located in the districts of Cinto Valley, Hospicio Irrigation Area, La Yarada, Calana Valley, Pachía, and Higuerani in the Tacna region. Data included soil moisture at different depths, tree height, and stem diameter. Irrigation system performance was evaluated in each location, and a comparative analysis was carried out to assess the relationship between irrigation efficiency, tree growth, and fruit yield across the regions. Key results indicate that irrigation efficiency and uniformity critically affect avocado productivity. Zones such as Cinto Valley achieved high irrigation efficiency (up to 94%) and correspondingly higher soil moisture, resulting in significantly greater tree heights (up to 416 cm) and fruit yields (up to 195.8 fruits per tree). In contrast, Hospicio areas showed poor irrigation efficiency (as low as 13%), low soil moisture, and markedly reduced tree growth and fruit production. A statistically significant positive correlation was found between irrigation uniformity and yield (Spearman ρ = 0.49, p = 0.006), underscoring the direct impact of water management on productivity. Soil analyses revealed low organic matter (0.03%–0.89%) and high sand content (up to 95%), limiting water retention and nutrient availability across sites. Salinity was elevated in Pachía (EC up to 5.16 dS/m), indicating a need for salinity management in some areas. Cation exchange capacity varied, with Higuerani soils showing better nutrient retention. Overall, yields ranged widely, from below 1,000 kg/ha in less favorable zones (Hospicio, Yarada) to nearly 11,000 kg/ha in Valle de Cinto by the 2023–2024 season, highlighting strong spatial variability driven by irrigation performance and soil conditions. Orchard age also influenced productivity, with older orchards (>6 years) outperforming younger ones (<4.5 years). This study emphasizes that improving irrigation uniformity and tailoring soil management practices are essential for optimizing Hass avocado production and sustainability under the arid conditions of Tacna.

Copyright

© 2026 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Tefide Kizildeniz
AU  - Francisco Condori Tintaya
AU  - Oscar Fernandez Cutire
AU  - Yhudit Marili Mamani Llaca
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/05/07
TI  - Optimizing Hass Avocado Production through Sustainable Irrigation Practices in the Arid Zone of Tacna, Peru
BT  - Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Research of Agricultural and Food Technologies (I-CRAFT 2025)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 213
EP  - 240
SN  - 3005-155X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6239-666-1_19
DO  - 10.2991/978-94-6239-666-1_19
ID  - Kizildeniz2026
ER  -