Effect of Irrigation and Nutrition on Growth, Fruit yield and Quality Parameters in Mango (Mangifera indica) under Semi-arid Alfisols

摘要

An assessment of effects of drip irrigation and nutrition treatments on growth parameters of mango, fruit yield, total soluble solids (TSS) and acidity in a semi-arid Alfisol at Hyderabad has been studied during May 2001 and September 2006. The studywas conducted with 4 levels of drip irrigation (control, 0.25,0.5 and 0.75 Evaporation Replenishment Rates(Ep)) and 5 levels of nutrition (control, FYM @ 75 kg/tree, 100% recommended NPK, 100% recommended NPK + FYM @ 75 kg/tree and 50% NPK + FYM @ 37.5 kg/tree). Based on Analysis of Variance, irrigation treatments differed significantly in influencing only fruit yield in 2003,2004 and 2005; and weight of single fruit in 2002 and 2006. The nutrition treatments were significantly superior in influencing tree height, collar diameter, canopy spreadin September 2006, and fruit yield in 2002, 2004 and 2006; weight of single fruit in 2002, 2003 and 2006; and TSS. Among irrigation treatments, 0.5 Ep drip was superior with a significantly higher fruit yield in2004 and 2005 and weight of single fruit in 2006. The nutrition treatment - 100% NPK + FYM @ 75 kg/tree was superior with a significantly higher tree height, collar diameter and canopy spread in September 2006; fruit yield in 2002,2003 and 2004; and weight of single fruit in 2003. Application of FYM @ 75 kg/tree was superior with a significantly higher fruit yield in 2006 and TSS. The study indicated that drip irrigation at 0.5 Ep together with 100% recommended NPK + FYM @ 75 kg/tree was efficient for attaining a significantly higher net returns of Rs.48,159/ha with a benefit-cost ratio of 1.37 under semi-arid Alfisols.