National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS)
|
PRINT ISSN : 2319-7692
Online ISSN : 2319-7706 Issues : 12 per year Publisher : Excellent Publishers Email : editorijcmas@gmail.com / submit@ijcmas.com Editor-in-chief: Dr.M.Prakash Index Copernicus ICV 2018: 95.39 NAAS RATING 2020: 5.38 |
Field experiment was conducted in semi-arid western India for three consecutive years (2008-2010) to study the response of drip fertigation on yield, quality and economics of pomegranate. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with seven treatments replicated three times. The experiment comprised of 100, 80 and 60 % water soluble fertilizers applied through drip in 20 equal weekly splits and results were compared with four control treatments. The study indicated the beneficial effects of drip irrigation in terms of 23.5 % increase in yield and 48.6 % water saving whereas drip with fertigation resulted into 40 to 61 % increase in pomegranate yield as compared to conventional method. The 100 % recommended dose of fertilizer through drip in 20 weekly splits showed 61 % increase in yield (14.6 t ha-1). However, it was on par with 80 % fertigation treatment (13.7 t ha-1). The pomegranate fruit yield obtained under 60 % fertigation (12.6 t ha-1) produced 38.9 % more yield as compared to farmer’s practice (9.05 t ha-1) indicating 40 % fertilizer saving due to fertigation. Maximum water use efficiency (79 kg ha-1mm-1) was obtained in 100 % fertigation. The fertigation resulted into B:C ratio in pomegranate in spite of very high market prices of water soluble fertilizers. The maximum net seasonal income (Rs. 475758 ha-1), total net income (Rs. 922546), net extra income over conventional method (Rs. 217984 ha-1) and maximum water productivity (Rs. 4607 mm-1 of water) were obtained in 100 % fertigation however all the economical parameters were on par with 80% fertigation applied in 20 equal weekly splits.
Citations |
 |
 |
 |
 |
