Effect of automatic micro-irrigation scheduling on productivity and quality of Nagpur mandarin

Abstract

An experiment was conducted on 12-14 year-old bearing Nagpur mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco) trees to study the automatic daily irrigation scheduling as well as alternate day based on time schedule through the drip irrigation during 2007-2010. The treatments were consisted of automatic daily irrigation daily with 60 min. interval three times (I1); automatic irrigation daily with 90 min. interval two times (I2); automatic irrigation at alternate day with 120 min. three times (I3); and automatic irrigation at alternate day with 180 min. two times (I4) with six replications in randomized block design. The sustainable quality fruit production of Nagpur mandarin is possible with drip irrigation using automatic scheduling daily or on alternate days. The water use in October varied from 65.0-72.4 l/ day/ plant and during May-June it was 133.0 - 147.7 l/ day/ plant. The fruit yield was 30.91 tonnes/ ha with irrigation on alternate day 120 min. three times, followed by irrigation scheduled with 90 min. interval two times daily (30.11 tonnes/ ha). Fruit weight (154.7 g), TSS (10.22°Brix) and juice percent (40.77) was found higher with automatic irrigation at alternate day with 120 min. three times. The automatic drip irrigation scheduling was found as better substitute for manual drip irrigation operation besides enhancing the yield, fruit quality and water use efficiency in Nagpur mandarin.