The number of irrigations varies usually from one to four passes, depending on the weather conditions and the soil texture. More effective water use will be obtained if the irrigation is fully synchronised with the crop’s sensitivity to water deficit.
When there is not enough precipitation or if the water supply is limited, to obtain optimum production irrigation must be centred on the critical periods: at peak flowering and at the start of the seed formation period, for the other phases: vegetation and maturing period, the impact is less marked.
Surface irrigation is the most common.
