The productive and vegetative behaviour and fruit quality of hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) was determined in response to 4 wet soil volumes receiving the same amount of water irrigation, 3 of them (6, 15, 33%) generated by drip irrigation and 1 (70%) with microsprayers, expressed in terms of potential root exploration volume. The experiment was conducted on the cultivar ?Pauetet? in a commercial farm in Tarragona (Spain). The smaller volume of wet soil (6 %) generated the lower production of hazelnut in shell. Also the highest percentage of wet soil volume (70%) generated by microsprayer irrigation showed water stress due to the low water content of the soil and, probably, a higher evaporation of the soil surface, with hazelnut in shell productions like those achieved with the volume of 6% wet soil. Increased production of the hazelnut in shell and the greater vegetative shoot growth were achieved with a percentage of 33% wet soil volume. According to the results obtained in the production and quality parameters it would be advisable the drip irrigation for a minimum percentage of 33% wet soil volume.