Effects of drip irrigation regimes and basin irrigation on Nagpur mandarin agronomical and physiological performance

• Published in: Agricultural water management 2012-02, Vol.104, p.79-88
• Main Authors: Panigrahi, P., Srivastava, A.K., Huchche, A.D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: acidity; basin irrigation; Citrus; Citrus jambhiri; Citrus reticulata; Evaporation; fruit quality; fruit yield; Fruits; Iron; Irrigation; irrigation management; irrigation water; Leaf nutrient composition; Leaf physiology; leaves; Mandarins; microirrigation; orchards; Plants (organisms); Productivity; rhizosphere; rootstocks; salinity; Soil (material); Soil chemical changes; soil chemical properties; soil water content; stomatal conductance; surface irrigation; total soluble solids; vegetative growth; Water management; water quantity; water stress; water use efficiency; Yield parameters
• ISSN: 0378-3774; 1873-2283
• DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2011.11.018

► Drip irrigation is found as a potential water saving technique in ‘Nagpur’ mandarin. ► Optimal drip irrigation regime (80% E cp) resulted in 50% higher fruits yield over basin irrigation. ► Superior quality fruits were harvested under drip irrigation at 80% E cp. ► Salinity build-up was prominent in upper soil, with some decrease in pH under drip irrigation. ► Leaf nutrients content of drip-irrigated plants was higher than basin-irrigated plants. The scarcity of irrigation water is one of the major causes of low productivity and decline of citrus orchards. The present study was planned with a hypothesis that the drip irrigation (DI) could save a substantial amount of water over surface irrigation, besides improving the yield of citrus plants. The experiment was conducted for 3 seasons during 2006–2009, with ‘Nagpur’ mandarin ( Citrus reticulata Blanco) plants budded on rough lemon ( Citrus Jambhiri Lush) rootstock in central India. The effects of DI and basin irrigation (BI) on soil chemical properties and crop responses were studied. DI was scheduled every-other-day at 40%, 60%, 80% and 100% of the alternate day cumulative evaporation ( E cp) measured in Class-A evaporation pan. DI except irrigation at 40% E cp proved superior to BI, producing more growth and fruit yield of plants. The higher plant growth was recorded with higher regime of DI. The maximum fruit yield in DI at 80% E cp, using 29% less irrigation water resulted in 111% improvement in irrigation water productivity under this treatment over BI. The heavier fruits, with lower acidity and higher total soluble solids, were harvested in DI at 80% E cp compared with BI. The significant variation of soil water content at 0–0.2 m depth under DI indicated the confinement of effective root zone of the plants in top 0.2 m soil. The maximum rate of net-photosynthesis, stomatal conductance and transpiration in leafs was recorded in DI at 100% E cp. However, the plants under DI at 80% E cp exhibited the highest leaf water use efficiency. The maximum salinity build-up with highest decrease in pH was observed in 0–0.2 m soil under DI, whereas the salinity development was prominent in 0.4–0.6 m soil with an increase in pH under BI. The gain in available macronutrients (N, P and K) and loss of micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn) in soil followed the similar trend of EC. The leaf nutrient (N, P, K, Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn) analysis revealed that DI produced significantly ( P < 0.05) higher concentration of macronut